TRIBUTE TO LOVE
For those who have spent any time in the San Francisco Bay Area, the name of Cecil Williams is well known. At 94 years of age, Cecil made his transition this week after a life well lived. He provided San Francisco with many challenges over the years – most especially how to care for the marginalized and provide opportunities, housing, clinic services and spiritual guidance to the south of Market and beyond. Pictured here with his late wife, Janice, they together created a community of unconditional love, service and inspiration. If you Google or search on Cecil, you will see 60 plus years of constant support as the City by the Bay became a city that cannot house poor people.
The purpose of my tribute however, is way more personal. I appreciate everything Cecil did in those years and admire his tenacity and commitment- but at the heart of it for me was both spiritual healing and a calling. An acquaintance invited me to services many years ago now. I was in search mode with regard to all things faith oriented and she thought Glide might trigger some answers. I was raised in a tradition that had a lot of rules and many ideas about who was in the Kingdom and who wasn’t. When I walked into Glide that first Sunday, the famous ensemble was tuning up – I began to sob for reasons I had no idea about, but the music stirred my spirit and all I could do was look for Kleenex and sit down.
The sermon was all about love – it was all about loving your neighbor and the church itself was filled with people wearing turbans, yarmulkes and leather. I knew I was home- finally a church, that embraced everyone as a precious expression of the Most High. I started attending services. Then I started volunteering. Over a period of a few years, Glide became the catalyst for healing the past and creating the future. Cecil taught me how to listen with love to everyone and to know that everyone had a voice. I was given the gift of a thorough education on how to serve not save- and to know that everyone does the best they can with what they know. (and I didn’t know much)
Some 7 years later I was teaching Bridges Out of Poverty workshops and realizing that Cecil had sparked something I could not have known was in my long term plan. It had that eerie quality when you know you have been called to something and life produces the answer to that call.
I know there is great rejoicing wherever Cecil is now – he exhibited joy wherever he went and gave you loving moments whenever you needed them. I can only say, with a full heart, thank you Cecil – thank you for all you gave us and most especially me…thank you for your gift of Love.
