Hope and love for Greg and Frances

Dear Greg,

It may seem strange to be receiving words of love, support and hope from someone you have never met but I believe every positive thought and prayer sent your way right now will help you to get well.

I am a friend of Frances from her Milton and U of T days.  She is one of the main reasons I made it through high school with my sanity intact - something I will always be grateful for.  When we reconnected again recently and she told me about you and your Brooklyn wedding I simply could not have been happier for both of you.  Frances is an extraordinary person and so my powers of deduction have lead me to the conclusion that you must be an extraordinary person too.  Your family and friends are doing all they can to help you get well, but just know that there are perfect strangers (like me) praying for your recovery.  

Greg and Frances, I am sending you all the positive and healing energy I can muster.  You are both in my thoughts and prayers.

Much love,

Lisa Simpson

The power of love

Dear Greg,

We have never met, but today you are my brother. I'm extending my love
to help you heal. Take comfort in knowing many of your friends and
family are praying for a speedy and healthy recovery.

I look forward to meeting you very soon,

Bob

Pulling for you Greg!

Greg,

My thoughts and prayers are with you! Although I have not had the opportunity to meet you in person, The generosity yourself and Frances  extended during you're Wedding was very heartwarming and will not be forgotten. I too was in a serious situation 5 years ago and I will be sure to send a good dose of the "miracle energy" that helped me, your way!

Neil Mercer 

High School friend of Frances

Toronto

Greg Be Well

Hi Greg,

We’ve never met, but I am a long time friend of Frankie’s from Milton.

Please accept my thoughts of wellness, healing, energy and love that I am sending your way.

Your spirit is strong! You’ll be well soon. Don’t fight it…submit and allow your body to heal.

With love,

Cam

Love for Greg

Greg,

So. We have barely even had a chance to get to know you yet. I mean, I did help with the important tying of your tie on your wedding day, but besides that we don’t have much of a history.

Here’s the deal. I have two awesome girls who need to spend more time with their Uncle Frankie, and of course Uncle Greg (or should you be Auntie Greg). I also need to spend more time in New York. So when you are well, we’ll come to visit. Olivia would love to meet you. Oh, she’s also dying to see “Lady Liberty,” as she so fondly calls her.

Frankie is the closest thing I have to a sister and she’s too far away for me to look out for. That’s your job and you do it well.

Heal, heal, heal.

We love ya!

Chantal, Mike, Olivia and Parker

Greeting from Ottawa

Hi Greg,

 

It's James.  I haven't been up to visit you yet but plan to when you are feeling better.  Joey wants to visit soon because he wants to play Lego with his Uncle Greg.  Audrey is also starting to mutter a few words and it won't be long before you have a niece also wanting to play with Uncle Greg. 

 

From my perspective I'm still thinking of the serious debate that Iain, you and I were having on our last boys trip to New York.  The topic was oasis pro or con with you and I strongly on the pro side and Iain on the con.  We need to pick this and several other topics up on our next visit.  I can't wait to see you, drink some beverages, go to soda and then drag you to some concert that you weren't thinking of going to but do because why not.  That's what I like about you Greg.  You're always up for fun and because of this you make life fun for my sister.   We are all waiting for you to get better. 

 

Love James, Teresa, Joey, and Audrey

Hi Greg from Ottawa

Hi Greg,

 

It's James.  I haven't been up to visit you yet but plan to when you are feeling better.  Joey wants to visit soon because he wants to play Lego with his Uncle Greg.  Audrey is also starting to mutter a few words and it won't be long before you have a niece also wanting to play with Uncle Greg. 

 

From my perspective I'm still thinking of the serious debate that Iain, you and I were having on our last boys trip to New York.  The topic was oasis pro or con with you and I strongly on the pro side and Iain on the con.  We need to pick this and several other topics up on our next visit.  I can't wait to see you, drink some beverages, go to soda and then drag you to some concert that you weren't thinking of going to but do because why not.  That's what I like about you Greg.  You're always up for fun and because of this you make life fun for my sister.   We are all waiting for you to get better. 

 

Love James, Teresa, Joey, and Audrey

outward pouring

Much love to you and your family...the love is pouring forth so strongly for Greg (and from Greg, I suspect) I can feel it seeping out through the pores of your email :- ).

Much love, Mary

Reach for love

Hello Greg,

I am a friend of Carrie’s and wanted to write and let you know my heart goes out to you along with my prayers for your healing and well being. I can only imagine what you are experiencing right now. Indeed, it is only in my imagination that I have wondered how I would face a similar occurrence. I’d like to think that with all my will I would choose life, unequivocally, and then surrender to its pull, courageously going where it led, confident in its continuity and love for me and for all. I hope that you will reach for that love, Greg, know an ease of well being and that its path will be clear to you.

 

John koriath

Letter for Greg

hi Greg.

It's Marianne again.

It's been a few years since we've seen each other, but, you've been
on my mind continuously these days. I'm sending you super duper
amounts of healthy good wishes your way. I really want to see you
again, one day hopefully soon, happy and healthy. I'm hoping that
minute by minute and day by day you're feeling stronger and
stronger. So many people love you and are rooting for you. Keep going.

Love,
Marianne

a letter for Greg

Dear Greg,

You've met me a few times but we don't really know each other but you'd probably recognize me if we passed on the street. But I do know your brother Phil and his wife Carrie and consider them both among my dearest friends. For them and everything I know you mean to Phil please get better. They need you strong and healthy and there for them. I've always thought that one of the biggest gifts we can give to those we love most is simply just being there. You mean so much to Phil and Carrie and this love has a long, long reach.

It's finally spring here in Brooklyn and you have to get strong again so you don't miss all the drama of everything coming back to life. The cherry trees are already starting to bloom at the Botanic Garden and the daffodils and forsythia is blazing yellow at Grand Army Plaza. Soon the trees will start to turn that bright florescent green that looks so tender and new. That color only lasts for a minute so please keep fighting, you don't want to miss the best season of the year.

You've lots and lots of people cheering you on and wishing for your recovery. Keep fighting hard and beat this nasty virus - you're stronger than it and there's so much in this world and so many people that need you around.

You're in my thoughts and I'm sending all the strength I can!

Rana

Life On the Ground

Greg,

Only you and Allness know what is best for you right now. And I thought I would share with you what makes life special for me here on the ground.

What I like best is connecting with people and feeling the common thread of Allness in each of us. When this happens I fall in love, really in love. This is what makes my life on the ground so special.

Springtime is here and I see the buds and blossoms are showing off. It is a visual feast right now here on Queen Anne hill. What is the world telling us I wonder.

My son is going to be 16 years old in a couple of days. It scares me because he will be able to drive a car by himself, and at the same time it makes me happy that he will get to experience the freedom of driving in a car by himself. I'm learning to let go some more. It is painful and joyful. And I cherish the pain and joy.

My girlfriends are the most incredible people. They are my most treasured allies. I cannot life without them. Talking with them about the deep insights we gain in living life puts wings under my feet.

Anyway, whatever is happening to you I assume you are not alone. Do what you need to do, and know that many on the ground here are praying and thinking of you.

Pure Love,
Lisa Capa

love, prayers and healing thoughts

Carrie,

Joe has told me about your brother-in-law, and I'm sending light, love, prayers and healing thoughts.

All the best,
Brydie

prayer circle

The following is an email Carrie's mom sent to her church's minister in Cumberland, Maine.
____________

Dear Diane,

Sally here from London – we have just arrived from our overnight flight from Nairobi and will be headed back to Maine tomorrow, arriving in the evening.

We have been pretty much out of communication through most of our trip, but one message came through loud and clear from Carrie. Her husband’s youngest brother, Greg, is on life support in a Brooklyn hospital, after checking himself in late last week with what he thought was complications from the flu but which turned out to be extreme pneumonia.

For that reason, I wondered if it would be too much to ask to ask, through a special email message, for the prayers of our church family.

Sincerely,
Sally

"Loving Kindess" Meditation

Below, I've written out instructions for doing a simple Buddhist meditation called 'metta' or 'lovingkindness.'

It was taught to me by my roommate Elaine, who has been doing this for Greg since he became ill. If you want to send love to Greg but squick at the thought of God, this might be for you.
Of course, you can believe and God and do this as well.

I love you all and miss you terribly,
Terri

DOING META

This is a practice that can take as long or as short a time as you have.
Usually each section runs about 5 minutes, but there are no hard and fast rules.
Take the time you need, and be gentle with yourself throughout.


SECTION 1: YOURSELF

In the first section of this practice, you think about yourself (always start with yourself in meta)
As you do, say the following words to yourself with deep intention:

May I be well
May I be happy
May I have ease of well being

SECTION 2: AN 'EASY' PERSON

In the second section of practice, you think of someone whom it is easy to love.
I have been thinking of Greg, and Frankie

May Greg be well
May Greg be happy
May Greg have ease of well being

May Frankie be well
May Frankie be happy
May Frankie have ease of well being

SECTION 3: A 'NEUTRAL' PERSON

The third section of the practice requires you to think on a 'neutral' person in your life.
This is someone who you know, but not particuarly well.
I have been using Hilary, Frankie's mom.
You may want to use Dr. Rosa, or one of the nurses, or someone else in the waiting room.

May Dr. Rosa be well
May Dr. Rosa be happy
May Dr. Rosa have ease of well being

SECTION 4: AN 'ENEMY'

In this section, you are to think on someone (or something) with which you feel angry.
I have chosen to think about Greg's lungs
It might sound a little goofy saying this, but if you breathe deeply while you do it, it can be a very powerful thought:

May Greg's lungs be well
May Greg's lungs be happy
May Greg's lungs have ease of well being

SECTION 5: YOUR ENVIRONMENT

In this section, you send loving intention beyond yourself, your friends and your enemies.
The focus here is on your environment and beyond.
I've been saying the following:

May everyone in the ICU be well
May everyone in the ICU be happy
May everyone in the ICU have ease of well being

May everyone in the hospital be well
May everyone in the hospital be happy
May everyone in the hospital have ease of well being

May everyone in New York be well
May everyone in New York be happy
May everyone in New York have ease of well being

May everyone in the world be well
May everyone in the world be happy
May everyone in the world have ease of well being.

Fw: Calling all angels

We have put Greg Sewell on our prayer call. Every morning and every evening Uncle Ed and I light a candle and pray for all those who are in need of being held and companioned in prayer. Bern is now on staff at OSP for the Ministry of Prayer, so he will be mentored by those people, as well. Uncle Bill and Aunt Mauren, I am sure will be following up with you as well. There is a wonderful book for you to read called In the Stillness you will know - Barbara Fiand. Uncle Ed and I are reading it together while preparing to give a retreat . It is a beautifully written exploration into the paths of our ancient belonging. You might find it very consoling and supportive. Know you are present to us as we walk the path.

Blessings, Aunt Rita
(Aunt to Maggie and Angela Bowman)

letter

Dear Greg:

There is a loving God and a life energy from which you can draw. We are asking the angels to surround you and fill your heart with their presence. As I pray for you  I think of the words of a hymn we sing: "Come back to me with all your heart." Come back Greg to those who are praying for your healing and shairing renewed life with you. They are many and are writing to you to remind you how greatly you are loved and supported. You are not on this road to recovery by yourself. . Listen with the ear of your heart to all those who wait for you to come back to them.  Your spirit is the energy source. "Be well, dear Greg, be well."  I place these words in your soul " I long for life, I seek life, I ask for healing and life." We will be sayng those words for you until you can say them for yourself. May our loving God make his presence known to you.

Carmel Rita and Ed Moore
(Aunt and Uncle of Angela and Maggie Bowman)

---

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Greg

Dear Greg,

I don't think we've ever met, but I remember seeing you at Carrie and Phil's wedding.  I'm Carrie's cousin.

In college, I was a philosophy major and spent a lot of time thinking about life in ways I had never thought about it before.  This deep questioning and probing of issues I had always taken at face value was fascinating, but often times depressing.  Life looked different, and I frequently asked myself "what's the point?"

I have not really answered that question in the broad sense (no one can, I don't think), but I have spent a lot of time thinking about what the point is for *me*.  And it comes down to my sensory experiences of life.  I get immense pleasure from so many of the following things, and I hope you can latch on to some of these, too.  They may sound cliche or trite, but if you think about them beyond the words themselves, they hold great significance and have helped me through very difficult times.

-the smell of fresh cut grass, baking banana bread, and rain
-the sound of an acoustic guitar, a well-trained choir, and the woods of Vermont
-the feel of clean socks on my feet, a hot shower, and a strong hug
-the taste of good wine, cheap wine, peanut butter, and chocolate
-the sight of new places, dogs, and dear friends and family.

Carrie, Phil, and the rest of your family and friends are desperately hoping you will survive this illness.  I hope some of these will help you remember what you find meaningful, and that you will decide they are worth fighting for.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Sara


--
Sara Willis
Development Chair
Boston Choral Ensemble
www.BostonChoral.org
____________________
Join us during our 2007-2008 season

A Peaceable Kingdom, 5/30/08 & 6/1/08 :: With Randall Thompson's The Peaceable Kingdom at the core, the concert explores both war and peace.

Positive thoughts for recovery

Dear Greg –

I know that you don’t know me that well – after all, we’ve only met a couple of time. But, I know how much you mean to Phil and to Carrie, and that makes you family to us as well. I just wanted you to know that Andy and I are here in Africa thinking of you and pulling for you to recover. We know that you have a lot of fight in you, as we wouldn’t even be talking to you right now if you didn’t. You have been so strong throughout this whole ordeal. Please continue to be strong and hang in there so that your body has the time it needs to heal.

You have so much support and love around you right now, and you have people who are cheering for you from all corners of the world. We know that you can hear all of us, so please keep fighting.

With lots of love,

Emily & Andy

Wanting to hear again the Shakespeare Sonnet from Carrie and Phil's wedding

Dear Greg,

Please know that we are praying daily for you and are imagining you standing on the shores of Sebago Lake in Maine redelivering the Shakespeare reading you presented to Carrie and Phil on their wedding day. When you are recovered, let’s make a date for you to repeat that beautiful delivery in front of Long Pond at our summer cottage. Please be there… love and light and peace be with,

Sally and Ron

smiling faces

Dear Greg,

Please, please, please feel better ! I only met you once -- at the fundraiser that Carrie has had for her Sunset Park organization, but I've heard a lot about you from Phil, and from Carrie and I know how much you mean to them.

Please get better ! We all really want to see smiles on Phil's and Carries faces, and on so many people's faces -- everyone who cares about you so much ! You can make so many people so happy !

--sasha

Letter for Greg

Dear Greg,
I've never met you, but I am a friend of Carrie's and have been following
your progress with great concern. I can't believe what's happening to you!

I myself had surgery in February to remove a benign but nonetheless pesky
pituitary tumor. The surgery was serious although not as invasive as you
might think. Nonetheless I was out of work for a good month. During that
time I was absolutely showered with prayers and well-wishes from family and
friends, and I can't tell you what a difference that made to me. It lifted
my spirits tremendously and gave me great confidence knowing that I was part
of such a loving and supportive community. I received messages from people I
did not know well, and some from people I had never even met! I was so moved
by that experience in particular, and so struck by the abundance of love,
that I resolved to share it with anyone I could. So when Carrie put out the
call, I was eager to respond.

Hang in there, Greg! I am sure you are feeling like crap and can imagine
that you must be very tired right now. Maybe you are even so tired that you
feel like letting go, just for the rest. Don't do it! The human body and
spirit have tremendous capacity to heal. And you should know that there are
dozens of people lifting you up in light and prayer, all wanting to share
your burden. Your loved ones are so eager to chat with you again, tell you
the latest jokes and fill you in on the latest headlines. I'm sure you are
eager to visit with them again, to see your family, and I'm confident that
you can and will.

Also, you should know that spring is coming. I don't know if your New York
winter has been as bad as Chicago, but I know a lot of people are getting
discouraged as the miserable weather drags on, and obviously there's a
fierce flu going around (I had one myself). But outside the hospital window
the wind is starting to get warmer and the beer gardens are starting to itch
for people. Baseball is starting and the fish in backyard ponds are getting
ready to start swimming again. It's a time of year when things start to get
a little easier.

I asked my choir to pray for you tonight, and I sent Carrie's email to some
relatives whose church groups prayed for me while I was sick. We're all
pulling for you!

God bless you, dear. I'll look forward to some good news of you.

Best,
Angela Bowman