Gordon's Ashes

Gordon's family, in kayaks, spreading his ashes in the water.

While on Cape Cod, the family scattered the ashes of Grandpa Gordon Pott under a tree in his yard and in the ocean waters.  He passed away a year ago.  We had a little time of reflection together and I offered this poem/prayer:

Returning Gordon’s Ashes to Earth and Sea

Creator,

We are here in thanks.
We thank you for the land that nourished Gordon

and nourishes us still.

We thank you for the water

that keeps us alive,

that brings us joy,

that never stops moving,

that carries us all to new places

and eventually down river, to the sea.

We thank you for places like Cape Cod

and Castine

that have held and fed

the joys of this family.

We thank you for that bit of earth

that makes up, with water,

our bodies.

We are earth creatures,

humans from humus,

and we love the waters of the sea.

We thank you, especially, for Gordon's body

that moved through this earth

carving out slow spaces

where joy could take root and grow,

where life could happen.

Last, we thank you that now we get to return Gordon's body

to the Earth

to nourish more life—

to the sea,

where it will settle into the ocean floor,

into the beautiful base of everything.

We pray that this earth, and us in it, may never forget

the quiet peace sowed by Gordon,

and the kind of life that flowed

around and through him.

Amen.