It’s a dangerous world and being a mother I would worry about the fate of my children, especially when they were little. My mother, may she rest in peace, taught me that once they leave our bodies, our children are on their own path and we have to trust them, even if they die.
These words have comforted me throughout motherhood to this day. Fortunately my children are alive and well, but there are other mother’s who have lost their children. And though we may curse the timing of tragic events, no one gets out of here alive. In cases of inexplicable random violence, We can shake our fists at the heavens and demand justice, a refund, a guarantee but alas, this life business does not have a warranty, make any promises or respect contracts. What you see is what you get. This reminds us how deeply precious this very moment is.
Many of you have probably heard by now of the death of our kind and beautiful friend Matt Coleman steward of the land and beloved member of our community. He was murdered last Thursday night a mile or so from highway one 10 miles north of Westport. The Sheriff has no leads, no clues at this point. It’s just a deeply heartbreaking story. It was an ordinary day, one where a simple man, in love with the world went to work which brought him to the Old Thompson Ranch last Thursday to do his job, eradicating invasive species, watching out for the salmon, photographing the birds, taking care of the earth and her creatures. His path crossed with someone at the exact time, who was armed and willing to do harm, irrevocable harm. We can never know what happened at the moment, if Matt came to close to an illegal pot grow, a random crazed hiker, or at first what some rumored was a bear attack. Matt’s love for the world and passion for keeping it green and growing is what he has left us. Besides a loving family coming to bury their son, brother, friend but also an amazing partner in life who’s beauty and childlike joy has touched many of us.
With them we grieve. I would encourage you to allow grief to touch you. Grief is a profound human response to death that is crucial for compassion and healing. It is a virtue often forgotten, neglected in this tragic world. We tend to skip the grief and go for the depression, rage, vengeance, punishment, and revenge, but the act of grief is a synergistic. It’s a blessing and a beauty. And if you and I and you and she and we all take a moment to grieve, we are connected in that beautiful blessing. The Mayans say the Gods drink our grief, it feeds them and lets them know that something precious is lost, something of value. Someone who mattered.
Recently I saw a photo on the front page of the Chronicle. It was of a woman on her knees at an intersection in Berkeley. She was kissing the ground where her beautiful lover was shot dead on the night of his birthday last September. She makes a daily pilgrimage to the spot and grieves for her lover. This photo both touched and haunted me. There are daily, grizzly accounts of murder that are calling for our attention in terms of grief There are so many that perish each day, just think about Somalia. What if we had the presence to take a few minutes each day, perhaps at twilight and mourn for us all, for the questions that will never be answered and that question is Why? Why are some human beings so cruel and violent, heartless, and homicidal??
At this time, we are witnessing a rise in violence in our county where as for the last three weeks we have heard repeated reports of random gun violence and robbery, property destruction and generally scaring the locals. Yes, it is frightening and there is little we can do, but being afraid is not going to change fate or destiny, living our lives completely, staying on our paths and continuing our souls important work like the work that Matt was doing in stewarding this sacred Land trust. That’s where Matt put his trust, in the land, and He is in her arms now and we are left to grieve. We have little time to ask why? because there is no reason, there is no explanation here. It’s just the way it is. What can we do? Well it seems to me that Matt Coleman was doing exactly what he was born to do here on his true path. That his days were full of nature, life, celebration, love and surely a joyful path that he walked till it’s end. You can read Matt’s last contributions to the Mendocino Land Trust newsletters at Mendocino Land Trust.org. There you will also see his photos of the Great Blue Heron. May he forever fly with her and please, watch over us. At their website You will also find ways to volunteer and give to the earth and it’s restoration and pick up where Matt left off. We’ll do this together, No one should walk alone.
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