Together - the Only Way to Fly

By Jerry J. Brown

As I look back with an element of editorial analysis, probably one-in-five of my death/life care articles have engaged themes that espouse the axioms of "one-for-all-and-all-for-one" and "the power is in the plurality."

Maybe my tendency to return to the "glory belongs to the group ideology" reflects a relentless belief in "group endeavor" and a coalescence of mind, spirit, academic evaluation and, ultimately, the objective of "advise and consent."

On a cold and rainy day in November of 1863, the ethos and eloquence of Abraham Lincoln described the very essence of coalescence and unanimity when he said, "A government of the people, by the people and for the people"

More than ever before, we must learn to involve, function, consider, commit and carry forth with communal purpose and collegiality if the quintessence of human existence is ever achieved.

Lofty, high sounding words indeed, but consider the following:

Democracy flourishes vis-à-vis the decisions and actions of many.

- Dictatorships are the scourge of people involvement and group action i.e. merely one or at best, a very few.

- America's legal, economic, industrial, health, ecological and moral codes and conditions represent the mosaic and architecture of multitudes.

- And from the global dynamic to our state and local environments; where would Minnesota Funeral service be today if our profession had functioned individually (without MFDA) for the past 119 years?

Ergo, where would the hundreds of Minnesota (and regional) children be today without the cathartic progress and therapeutic miracles created by the kindness, love, understanding and professional guidance of the legions of Camp Amanda (aka Hearts of Hope) leaders and volunteers who continue to commit to their care & healing.

Last Month marked my 50th MFDA Convention and although I was there as a newly inducted member of the "long-in-the-tooth society," I was just as impressed with the values, ethics, programs, objectives, endeavors and above all ITS PEOPLE as I was when I first walked through her hallowed portals in 1958.

So, BRAVO, OLE and A THOUSAND THANKS to the leaders, staff and members of the Minnesota Funeral Directors Association for all you do to preserve, protect and enhance the sociological imperatives of the profession.