A Great And Humble Man Has Passed

Dear Friends,

January 21, 2015 marked the passing of a great and humble man, Dr. Marcus Borg. He was a terrific teacher, researcher and scholar, and author. His words changed lives. His books brought about great discussion and a deepening of the spiritual experience for millions. He served on my Doctoral Committee and was greatly impacted by Martin Buber, the Jewish existentialist and philosophical anthropologist. Marcus' support of my desire to write my dissertation on Buber was pivotal in getting the idea approved at Oregon State University. I took nearly all of his classes and had 20 hours of independent study with him. I want to share two statements he made that have given me great comfort in my time of need as a cancer survivor. I hope they will be of great inspiration to you as well.

Dr. Borg was speaking to the Very Reverend Berkley Thompson in November when he said, "I may have ten years left. Not sure I want more. There comes a time to let go. And I could, with gratitude, sooner than that. My life has been very blessed." Key phrases to me: Letting go, gratitude, and blessed. I am not ready to let go. Not now. But I am grateful now for every day, every moment, every sunrise. I am reminded daily of the hymn's words that, "I know nothing about tomorrow except the love of God will rise before the sun. The love of God will rise before the sun." My life has been blessed by an amazing wife, wonderful children, and to date, two love rays from above named Addie and Harvey, my grandchildren. Patient friends, fabulous students, and teachers like Marcus Borg, Don Duns, Michael Beachley, Thomas Ambrogi, Warren Hovland, and Robert Blaney.

My spiritual mentor and friend Monsignor Robert Silva wrote me this morning, "I am sad to hear of Marcus Borg's death. He was very important in the search for the 'real' Jesus. As a member of the Jesus Seminar, he proved himself a scholar and theologian with the best of them. He was also a good and holy man. I will certainly pray for him and give God thanks." Dr. Borg would often ask me to send him students who would not try 'to save him.' I recommended to one of my students that she take a class. She called me three weeks into the term and said, "I don't know if Marcus Borg even believes in God." His gift was helping students and others get down to ground level with what they believed in their hearts to be true rather than what they had simply been told to believe by others. Deconstruction and then the construction of a meaningful belief system. At the time I said to her, "What do you make of the fact that he takes communion every month and sleeps with the Episcopalian Victor of Portland?" My student said, "He's gay?" I said, "No. Episcopalian Victor of Portland is a woman and his wife." That student wrote me last night that taking his class changed her life and helped her establish a spirituality and faith in God.

I was made aware of Marc's passing by my fraternity brother Bob Lannin of Nebraska in an email last night. Bob and his Congregational Church in Omaha had invited Dr. Borg to speak and Bob was impacted by the teachings and humility of Marcus. I was deeply saddened and emailed my fellow student Dr. John Reiman of Corvallis who had taken so many of the classes and independent study hours with me. Often it would be John, myself, and one other student with private dialogues with Marcus on campus or in his home. John reminded me of the other great statement that Marcus made about what comes afterlife. "So, is there an afterlife, and if so, what will it be like? I don't have a clue. But I am confident that the one who buoyed us up in life will also buoy us up through death. We die into God. What that means, I do not know. But that is all I need to know."

As a person staring directly into the face of my mortality, I cannot possibly tell you how much these words comfort me. So many people speak as if they fully know and comprehend the mind of God. Marcus was not like that. He proposed ideas, explored possibilities, and always left a door open for disagreement. I do not know what the next life looks like either. But God has buoyed me up in my life and I believe God will do the same in my death. Like dear Marcus, I do not know what that fully means. But that is all I need to know. I thanked John in an email this morning for reminding me of Marc's words. I told him I felt as if Dr. Borg had reached back over 'the between' this life and the next  one to teach me one final lesson. My bookshelves contain his books. My heart now holds his memory. I hope with all of my being you have had a teacher like him in your lives.

To be honest Dr. Borg, your passing makes my own mortality a little less scary. Death cannot end your legacy or our memories of you. Yours was a life well lived, and one that I am sure was greeted by God Almighty with the words, "This is my child Marcus Borg with whom I am well pleased." I will simply say I love you Marc and thank God for the time I had with you. Your grace and wisdom will live forever.

Will Keim