Reflections on a Life Well Lived

Today I commemorate Michael, recipient of a long life. He died suddenly, but not completely unexpected. He was blessed in his longevity. He was never sick; he kept his mind his whole life, and did not suffer. He is survived by his three children: Alex, Robert, and Claire; as well as his ex-wife: Daisy. Proceeded in death by his beloved second wife and mother of his two youngest children. He was 81, still living by himself and enjoying life to the same extent he always did.

Michael was born in 1927, in England or Ireland, I guess. I don’t know too much about his childhood or his parents, presumably because Alex had little contact with them. He was too young to participate in World War II, but I am certain it had a profound influence upon his life. He attended Oxford University, studying under J.R.R Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. A keen mind, he had pronounced aptitude in many areas, particularly language. Indeed, he had mastery of around 20 languages, as well as the working knowledge of scores more.
After graduation, Michael entered into seminary and was ordained as a priest in the Church of England. He had two parishes in his career, one in the English islands, and the other in the South of England. Like all other aspects of his life, Michael showed tremendous promise as a minister, writing profound sermons and serving his congregation well. However, around age 28, Michael had a severe disconnect with his ministry. For reasons known only to him, he abandoned his life and moved to New York City. Still, the Church of England honored Michael’s years of service. At the time of his death, he was still receiving a small pension from the church.

In New York City, Michael began taking classes at Colombia University, presumably for his doctorate, and teaching at the United Nations school. During this time, he received United States Citizenship from the US government as a gift for services rendered. (I’m not exactly sure of the circumstances, dubious or otherwise, surrounding his dual-citizenship, but he had it.) After his time in New York, Michael moved out of country, but with his doctorate as a full professor of linguistics.

It is at this time Michael’s life becomes hazy. He bounced around from country to country, never staying for longer than 3 or 5 years, and setting up schools for linguistics all over the world. After a period of time, he arrives in Greece, where he falls in love and marries his first wife, Daisy. From Greece, the couple moves to Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, Daisy becomes pregnant and gives birth to their first son, Alex. (However, due to labor complications, Alex is born in Greece, following a quick plane flight) The new family moves to India, Lebanon, and Greece.

However, Michael and Daisy divorced. Michael has his next assignment in Mozambique, while Daisy stays in her native Greece. From Mozambique, Michael continued to circumnavigate around the world, setting up schools in locations such as Bangladesh and others. In his 40s or 50s, Michael would remarry a Portuguese woman several years his junior. They would have two children together, Robert and Claire. This new family would continue in the honored tradition of moving all around the globe. However, the sudden passing of his second wife left him a widower with two teenage children.

Michael retired after the death of his second wife. He initially split his time between his wife’s family’s farm in Portugal, and a small village in his native England. However, he permanently moved to England after both of his children decided to pursue University in the English system. He spent his retirement raising his children, and continued to explore his interests in language and travel. Indeed, only a month or two before his death, Michael embarked on a solo trip to Egypt. True to form, he was able to learn enough Egyptian to be sufficient without the use of a translator or resorting to speaking English.

Michael was a devout writer of journals. Every day of his life, he managed to write at least a page detailing his activities and thoughts. He was also meticulous in planning. The week before he passed, he was busy ensuring accommodations for my parent’s trip to England. He was also a spiritual man. In spite of his disconnect from the Church of England, he instilled a desire in his children to make their own decision regarding religion. (Of course, Alex wonders how one can expect their children to become anything but Christian when their father gives them the works of his old professor, C.S. Lewis, as reading material. Alex had no idea that anyone else had ever read the “Narnia” books until he was in middle school.) Furthermore, as he grew older, he allowed his old sermons to be reread, embracing his religious past.

My fondest memory of Michael occurred during my sister’s wedding to his son, Alex. Prior to the rehearsal, as per tradition, Michael came to call upon the bride’s parents at our house. Anyway, in the midst of the entire pre-wedding hubbub, I got a chance to ask Michael about his time at Oxford. It was at that moment when I realized how much Michael’s mind betrayed his appearance. He looked very much like an elderly gentleman, but his intellect was so sharp, it rivaled all others. In his perfectly accented English, he regaled me with tales of Lewis and Tolkien. In particular, he was much more enamored of Lewis, who was a more dynamic speaker, teacher, and spiritual guide. He also told me a bit about his travels over the years. It quite possibly the only time in my memory where I felt an old man under exaggerated his exploits. There were aspects of his life I found fascinating, but he treated as mundane and unworthy to expand upon. In particular, the ease at which he was able to speak so many languages. He had mastered over 20, and could effortlessly flow from one to the other. For about an hour, I sat transfixed and slack-jawed by a level of hyper-intelligence I would never be able to achieve.

Though Michael’s passing was not a complete shock, (he was well advanced in age, especially for a man) it still must be mourned. Michael was an incredibly blessed man. He was blessed in many aspects. He had a mind worthy of envy. He lived a life full of excitement and adventure. He had three children, all of whom thought highly of their father. He had a global community of friends and colleagues. His legacy passes on through his son Alex, who I have been fortunate to get to know. To me, Michael represents a promise. Michael lived his life well, and was rewarded with graceful aging. I cannot reiterate how much he kept his mind. While individuals 20 years his junior are forced into assisted living, Michael was able to live and function on his own. He never had to compromise any aspect of his being. He lived and died at the same lofty level.

Fare thee well, Michael. And may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. May you rest peacefully for eternity on that hilltop in Portugal, under the olive tree. He has been called, he was counted, and he will be remembered. Even though you might have had your division with God, it is clear that his presence remained on your life. I have little doubt that you are presently enjoying the pleasures of heaven, speaking in tongues more magnificent than the plethora you knew on earth. I look forward to our having another conversation about your time at Oxford, perhaps lasting for ten thousand years and we could be joined by Lewis himself. Know that yours was a life well lived, and worthy of the highest praise.