Tuesday, September 1, 2020
Dear Freemans all... I hardly know where to begin reminiscences of Mac - my memories extend to a time well before I can remember anything (even back when age was measured in months) but here's a wee list: the Ramparts, Sharbot Lake (short short shorter long?), Sugar house, Gut bucket, visionary loudspeaker design, visionary if "unorthodox" theolog(ies), encountering teachers (McCarthur alum) everywhere I've been who've enthusiastically cited his good influence, knowing his interest and support of my own exploits, his particular friendliness known at all stages of my life and so many cases of no degrees of separation - "you know Mac? I know Mac too! How do you know Mac?" When I arrived at the Norwood-Westwood Pastoral Charge a decade ago, it was the very first question more than a few parishioners asked: "Do you know Mac Freeman?" Being able to answer "Only all my life" meant a great deal to people who knew him here decades before. Thank you for sharing your dad with us all. (I - we - know how hard that can be.) I know, and maybe it's nothing I could prove, that Mac, despite challenges, somehow lighted up the gatherings he joined - (if I may "borrow" from Henri Nowen) the presence of the holy in Mac greeting the presence of the holy in others... Don McLean (though always "Donnie" to Mac)
