Incline Our Hearts
Now Lettest Thou Thy Servant Depart In Peace
Thursday morning, February 26th was like any other morning at our Episcopal Church Center in Oklahoma City. We gathered for Morning Prayer in the oratory chapel. We were a small group that day that included local retired layman Douglas Traywick. For the more than four years that we've prayed Morning and Evening Prayer most Mondays through Thursdays in the chapel, Doug has hardly ever missed, unless he was participating in prayer at the same time in one of our local congregations (he was active most recently at St. John's and especially at Redeemer, OKC).
When Doug didn't join us for Morning Prayer on Monday, we grew worried. We soon learned that Doug had died over the weekend. We did what we do: we prayed. Doug was such a regular presence at prayer that his absence (in his earthly form, at least) is still sinking in. Over the years, our little group has developed a kind of repartee. We groan in jest when we have to veer from the 30 day psalter for major day psalms that are not consecutive. We joke on days without a saint on the calendar that there is a "holy opportunity”.
We have serious moments, too. We pray deeply for the cares and concerns of the world, and for each other. Our friendships have grown. I only just learned that Doug was unable to speak for many years when he was young. Perhaps that's why he was so often moved to tears when reading aloud the Scripture lessons. It was open hearted and beautiful.
He wasn't only contemplative but also active with his faith. He had dedicated ministries to the incarcerated and those without homes, and was an eager church musician. But I knew him best from his daily faithfulness at prayer, through which God gave him voice for his ministry in the world. When I think of him, I think of blessed Simeon, always at the Temple, giving thanks to God, waiting patiently for God's will to be fulfilled. Lord, lettest thou thy servant depart in peace.
Funeral Services for Doug will be on March 13th at 11 AM at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Oklahoma City. Read the full Obituary HERE.
