Celebrate the Difference

“…from the beginning to the end,  first came the date of birth followed by a date with tears, and what mattered most was the DASH between those years.  That dash represents all the time spent alive on earth..” Linda Ellis, The Dash

Even though The Dash focuses on the distinction of the difference our lives make on this earth, it still feels a little underwhelming to cover a lifetime of love, pain, joy and sorrow in an hour.  It seems to cheat the richness of that lifetime.  Instead of having a funeral where we say goodbye to our loved one, we think we will have a Celebrate the Difference event.  We will consider this in two places as we bid farewell to our beloved.  1.  in Thanksgiving for the opportunity to have had an experinece with this soul and 2. in the Distinction of  the difference this life made in your life.

Celebrating differences involves embracing diversity and individuality.  It acknowledges varied backgrounds  that lead to a rich community of respect and appreciation.  The celebration encourages innovation, creativity, and problem-solving considering  a multitude of perspectives, ultimately building strong, compassionate and responsible societies where everyone can live and thrive in the area for which they believe their life to be distinct.  It is from these places and this view that we come together today and take on tomorrow – despite it all. 

Our father was an ordinary man who loved all the people in his place and beyond – he really did and to this note  and this in loving memory campaign and Celebrate the Difference  he might say, o.k. or I better not say right now but it’ll be ok, yeah.

For a schedule of  Celebrate the Difference  in memory of James Douglas “Doug” Jordan, Sr. for 2024 and 2025 events click here:  https://www.canva.com/design/DAGRDY5zGZ4/4dTcl-bSVlm9Ok1uI0ZW0w/watch?utm_content=DAGRDY5zGZ4&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor

                      . . .  in loving memory of James Douglas Jordan, Sr. (1946- 2024))  

As part of James Sr.’s life, family, community and giving were paramount.  This  in loving memory campaign is to allow for the immediate accumulation of resources to support the family in the post-funeral process and allow them to come together to repast and begin again.

The initial funds will be used for the activities that support a closure of the life and times of the man for whom this campaign is named and to establish the legacy campaign for the Jordan family with Affinity's Family Legacy Holding Cooperative (AFLHC). 

The last event in this  “in loving memory” campaign will occur on May 29, 2025 at 6:00pm EST as the family and community ReCreate the space for a life that supports learning, family, giving and community.  The event will be simulcast and available for all of the family and friends  of  James Sr. who, because of the suddenness of loss, time and distance were unable to attend the funeral and other final celebration events.

Your immediate contribution will allow the family to focus on laying James, Sr. to rest and to gather from all parts of the world without fail over the next few weeks. Your future contribution will support the funding of the AFLHC Jordan ReCreation Village, North Carolina and add to the building resources to hold the name of the village in honor of James Sr.  

It is often difficult to determine how you can be a contribution to members of a family during difficult times but any token of yours will be greatly appreciated as the family celebrates – remembering the dash represents the life of James Sr. on this earth AND that the celebration is of the difference his life made in your life.  The real jewel is in the moment of sharing that story.  All is well and as it should be.  

Thank you for sharing this and your story, your time, your contribution and your attention to the life of Mr. James Douglas  “Doug” Jordan, Sr. (1946 dash 2024). Your acknowledgement of the difference Doug made in your life, no matter how small or large, is appreciated as it represents the life of a man who not only was respectful but respected and loved by many people in many places.