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Permalink Reply by Raye on 7th mo. 20, 2009 at 8:52am

I met Ed about ten years ago during a visit to Stillwater. His manner was friendly, but I was concerned that the more he found out about me, the less I would measure up. That's because I sensed that he was a man who took the Lord's will seriously, and I considered myself still a work in progress, with a long way to go. I could not imagine Ed bothering with someone like me.

I found out pretty quickly just how wrong I was. The more we shared about our lives, just the little details, the more we found we had in common. I rode a motorcycle, and Ed had loved the times he rode one in his younger days. Both of us loved the forest, and all of nature. Both of us enjoyed good, wholesome, simple foods, and were concerned to take care of our health so that we could continue to be helpful to others. And, of course, we both loved the Lord and were happy when we could share developments in our spiritual lives with one another.

One difference between us was that Ed did not get caught up in excuses for failing to do what was best. While I am sure he had his trials, he did not (it seemed to me) get bogged down or distracted by anything that might keep him from following the Lord in any matter.

Ed faced more serious difficulties in his life than I ever would have imagined from his way of interacting with people. He seemed joyful, at times carefree, laughing, smiling, welcoming. But he had lived through some very painful and dangerous experiences. I thank the Lord for bringing Ed through those experiences so that many of our lives would be touched by his.

In Ministry and Oversight meetings, and meeting for worship, Ed called us toward a higher, better way of being. He reminded us of the necessity of prayer, and our responsibility to continue in prayer. He did not admonish people to do anything he was not already doing. He supported us with prayer, and with listening, and with tender kindness and patience.

So I will end this note emphasizing what Ed emphasized by his words and actions. Pray. Pray always. Pray first, and not as a last resort. Do what is right and encourage others to do the same. Don't make excuses for doing less than you know you are called to do. Listen to others. Smile at them. Welcome them. Find what you have in common. Be tender, kind and patient.

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Permalink Reply by Gwen Giffen on 7th mo. 20, 2009 at 10:01am

Ed didn't speak in meeting as often as some others. I always felt that if he knew more about me that he wouldn't approve of much of my circumstances at different points in my life; and would at others. He had a gentle and loving nature though. Several times when I was having a difficult time, his speaking in meeting spoke to my condition profoundly. Most notably during my first marraige I was having a problem with my self-esteem. I was visiting home, and he spoke in meeting that weekend about forgiving one's self being difficult, when God had already forgiven us. Hearing that at that particular moment was a changing point for me, and for the way I viewed myself. I think I might have thanked him for his message. He and his brother, Morris, were both positive influences in my life, and I will always remember them both as such.

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Permalink Reply by Faye M. Chapman on 7th mo. 20, 2009 at 5:46pm

Greetings Friends,
I've known Ed Kirk for nearly thirty years. I (and many many others) attended the memorial meeting held in Stillwater Meetinghouse on 7th Day. At the time of his death, I believe that Ed was the only member of his immediate family who regularly attended Quaker Meeting. His family is Christian and have found nourishment for their souls in other primarily Protestant groups. Ed felt to stay with Friends, I suspect because the Lord never told him to leave. I've heard him muse about our efforts to find some group or other that was either "not too Christian" or "much more so". He didn't much get caught up in all the debates about degree of faithfulness. He just loved us all and kept on urging us to forgive, pray and praise. I didn't hear many first generation Quaker quotes from Ed. He knew the scripture well. He prayed and preached with evidence of God's anointment. The two scripture passages shared at his memorial were the great love chapter in 1st Corinthians and the 5th Chapter of Galatians which line out the fruits of the spirit. In both of these I felt that I was hearing a description of the man. Ed's humor was as evident as his faithfulness. I never saw the man angry. When speaking to a group of Ohio Yearly Meeting young people once, he tenderly directed them to the element of choice in their decision to follow Jesus. The life that I witnessed in Ed was as clear a reflection of His Lord and His God as I have seen. I praise God for his servant, Edward Kirk.

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