Reflections by friend P. Swenson

Funeral talk for
Richard E. Gordon
September 3, 2010

I remember first meeting Dr. Rich Gordon. Just prior to my marriage to Dana, her young 5-year old daughter, Sydney, suffered a broken arm, which was to become a bit of an epidemic for her. Our family doctor determined that the fracture needed the treatment from a specialist. He said to us, “I am going to send you to an Orthopedic surgeon – but don’t worry, he loves kids, he used to be a pediatrician.” The tenderness and kindness with which he treated Sydney immediately made a lasting impression on, as well as lasting gratitude from, Dana and me. When he and Patty and their family moved into our ward a deep friendship blossomed almost immediately. Shortly thereafter, Rich got me knot biking and insisted that I upgrade to a Cannondale. That following summer we put on over 1000 miles riding together on a regular schedule. We were old enough not to kill ourselves in training. The only time we got the heart rates really going was when we rode with Patty or Michelle. Rather, we would ride along side by side hour after hour. It was during these times that I really got to know the heart of the soft-spoken Rich Gordon.

My favorite hymn, sung by the Tabernacle Choir, is entitled “Consider the Lilies.” The words of the last verse are etched in my mind. “He clothes the lilies of the field; He feeds the lambs of His fold. And He will feed those who trust Him, and make their hearts as gold.” My point is, that as much as any friend I have ever had – Rich Gordon’s heart was pure gold. I basked in the warmth and security of his steady, even, soft-spoken, friendship that was totally devoid of any judgment. He even seemed to be calm and steady when telling me of his new road bike which he carefully mounted securely to the top of this car – and then promptly destroyed when unthinkingly drove into his garage upon bringing to home from the purchase. I am going to miss my friend. I am going to miss his thoughtful and perceptive counsel; I am going to miss steady and dependable wisdom. I am grateful to have, what I consider, a part of him in me – even if it is in the form of several small crews in the bones of my left hand. I miss him as a physician, but now I will miss him as a friend. I have huge admiration for him. For if you knew him at all, whether it be the surgical suite, the bicycle, or the boat – you know that there was a good man, who pursued his dreams, and encouraged others to do the same. Bottom line is, I will greatly miss the goodness of his heart and the effect it has been on me.

Mortality is full of challenges for all of us. Indeed, those challenges, and how we handle the, are an essential part of God’s plan of Happiness. Rich had his share of challenges – sometimes professional, sometimes emotional, sometimes spiritual, and more recently physical. My assessment of how Rich handled the pitfalls of mortality was always the same – steady determination, unfailing kindness, and uncomplaining endurance. I just finished reading a book by NFL quarterback Drew Brees. After a potential career ending injury he – by sheer determination, and by force of will, and against all odds, he came back to the the MVP quarterback of last year’s Super Bowl. He called his book “Finish Storng”. Indeed, no matter what challenges we may face, and what burdens we may be called ot carry – we must do as Rich did and Finish Strong. For the gospel requires all of us to, no matter what is dealt to us, to “endure to the end.” Indeed it is one of the requirements of a successful mortality.

I think of Rich when I read the words uttered by the Lord when he visited Alma and the sons of Mosiah prior to their departure into missionary service. He said to them, “and ye shall be patient and long suffering in afflictions that ye may show forth good examples in Me, and I will make you an instrument in my hands unto the salvation of many.” Rich was patient and longsuffering and no-judgmental in his challenges, and an inspiring example to me, to our family, and to countless others.

It became clear to me that Rich’s greatest possession was his family. We used to visit at length about each of the children. When I reflect on Rich and his family I am reminded again of what I consider to be the greatest lesson ever taught concerning family relationships. You are familiar with it – it is taught in the 121st section of the Doctrine and covenants. “No power or influence can or ought, to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood (note that influence can’t or shouldn’t be imposed by our position of authority – as a physician or even as a husband or father) but only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness, by meekness, and by love unfeigned.” Rich’s wife and children, as have many of us, have been fortunate recipients of his kindness, his goodness, his tolerance, his meekness, his long-suffering, and of his love unfeigned.

It seems that what we need in sad times like this is a measure of the peace and comfort that can only come through a quiet, yet unshakable, confidence in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We rely on something to give meaning to our life, and to all that we do and endure. I believe that Dr. Gordon would give us the same advice, as did Mormon to his son, Moroni, as he neared the end of his mortal stewardship. Remember Mormon had recently witnessed the tragedy and wickedness of his people, and the unspeakable brutality, depravity, and carnage of their destruction. In his last words to Moroni he counseled: “My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, …but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing of his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long suffering, and the hope of this glory and eternal life, rest in your mind forever.”

May the unspeakable joy of God’s plan of happiness, or our knowledge of our Eternal Father, and of our knowledge of our relationship to Him, of the reality of the infinite atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ; may all of this rest in our minds today and forever. It is only then that assures occasions like this, although sobering and sad, can be leavened by peace, and hope, and comfort – and, when the eternal perspective is considered, even by joy and rejoicing. Especially in the coming days and weeks, may Patty and the children lay hold of that wonderful promise made to us by the Savior “…Peace I leave with, not as the world giveth, give I unto you. By my peace I leave with you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” May we ever be found feeling and expressing heartfelt gratitude for these eternal verities I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.