When he died, he was ninetyish.
It was said that after he died we would have nothing to talk about. He was the
butt of jokes and clandestine observations. They said he was depressed and
depressing, that he was rigid and unpleasant. "They" said many
unfavorable things about him .Yet, five years after his death, I personally miss
him. I found him to be a friend in an unconventional sort of way. I also found
him companionable and healthily funny.
For example, one morning at breakfast one of the usual conformist brethren
said to him (in the somewhat repulsive and unthinking cliche of the present
time), "Have a nice day Goldie". To Which Goldie replied in a flash: "I
have other plans". Then Goldie (officially,J.Goldwyn Moir )remarked that
"they "all tell you to have a nice day but no one shows you how to do
it".
The smirking superiority of some people stayed strictly on surface. Few people
were admitted to the inner forum where the real Goldie lived. He WAS rigid in
that he found celebrating daily Mass a primary focus in his life. He was rigid
in that he prayed every day. He came to the community meditation in the evening.
He said the Rosary daily. And was intensely aware of the reality of his being a
priest.
Constantly he railed about the rampant narcississm which he called
"Self-ism". He was utterly fearless in stating his views. In a public
assembly he challenged the pastor to retire. This was utterly unheard of --in
the passionless society we live in. People were and are expected to be passive,
look the other way and NEVER confront anyone. Goldie crumpled a fellow
Canadian who was behaving in a way which was inappropriate for a priest--saying
"... I am ashamed that you are a Canadian.." This is frightening
for the politically correct people who need to go with the tide. This was
something Goldie could never do.Nevertheless,we all felt his wrath when he thought we were
erring.
Yet, he loved the common life. When he returned from one of his many hospital
stays, he sighed. "How good it is to be back with the brethren.." He
responded to any kind of friendship, He and I both smoked and I would toss him a
butt after supper at the table--then he would stay and chat, an unusual
behaviour for him, anxious as he was to get back to his beloved cell where he
could watch television programmes which pleased him.
Few knew that he had been a most effective and hard working
"Missionary" in his younger years. To hear the recording of his Three
hours in San Fancisco was like listening to Sheen or Fox or Reynolds. To get him
to talk about his years on the trail was a joy. His face would light up and he
would waggle the inevitable toothpick in his teeth and he would laugh. How many
times I heard the story of his encounter with Fr. Carey (Iron Mike) and his
learning experientially what living in religion UNDER obedience meant! How many
times I heard the charming story of Fr. Wyman, the convert, who wished to be
buried with his Protestant relatives, in Fitchburg,Mass., so that at Judgment
day, he might rise up and say "Now who's right you s----of b------s?" .
Who was Goldie? He was a priest, acutely aware of the
meaning and reality of the Character of the sacrament of Orders. He
knew deep in his soul that HE was different because of the action of
God on his soul. He knew thay he was not "one of the boys"
or a " regular guy." He was a priest and
THAT defined him. He could be crotchety and a curmugeon---but
who can't?
He made us laugh and he was a pain,sometimes. But he was a serious
and aggresive believer! His kind of belief is a rarity among priests
today. I miss him but I thank God that I had a chance to
get beneath the surface of the social persona the " in
" people gave him. It DOES take all kinds to make a
world but it takes a little vision,patience and generosity to
see the glory of God in a tough,little uncompromising priest like Goldie.
Even now, they still " put him down " but in the long run
these schleps couldn't carry his You Know What !
Let's see them live to be 90! These guys check out when
they are 40 because they find life too difficult!
Newspapers, TV sitcoms and computergames take up their time and interest.
They could look at Goldie and get a glimmer of
inspiration.
So-----go Goldie---go! It all comes out in the eternal
wash!!!!!!!!!!!!!!