Today I attended the memorial service of a remarkable man – Ron Buckland.
Ron passed away peacefully on May 31st, leaving behind an army of followers. Ron touched the lives of many, many people and left an indelible mark on all of them. He was a compassionate and passionate man who cared about people and wanted to see them achieve their innate greatness.
Ron was the minister at the Church of Christ in Montrose, Victoria. He helped my Mum find her passion for life again after my Dad died. He let her talk and talk while he just listened – no judgment, no helpful statements, no advice, he just allowed her to pour her heart out about my Dad and how her life had lost all meaning without him. He encouraged her to take on new roles within the community that rekindled her flame, leading her to find new enthusiasm for life. That’s what Ron did. Gently took people by the hand and lead them to their purpose.
This man had a passion for life right up to his last minute. Even when he was in the hospice on his final call, he was still living life to the fullest – joking with staff, spreading hope for the future of our children, keeping up the spirits of the people around him.
For him every day was a day – even if it was his last.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could all live like that?
We must never underestimate the power of listening. So many of us want to jump in and ‘fix’ things forgetting that we all have within us the means to find out own solutions. A listening ear helps us find those solutions. Men like him are rare and I am sure he will be missed.