May 31st is the birthday of Father William Treacy who co-founded our organization together with Rabbi Rafael Levine. Since I got involved in the Treacy Levine Center, now Paths to Understanding, we made big plans for Father Treacy’s birthday every year. We held big gatherings with food, music, and stories. During COVID, we invited people to drive by and wish him well from a distance. We made a meal with corned beef, potatoes, and cabbage. Our Board Vice President Jeff Renner made fish and others made the soda bread. Father Treacy still loved the Irish food he grew up with.
During those birthday celebrations it was clear how much Father Treacy inspired people to recognize other’s humanity – and their own.
This will be the first time we celebrate his birth after his passing. Like many of you, I miss him.
One time, I asked Father Treacy about Rabbi Levine. Bill began by talking about the Rabbi’s kindness and, at the same time, his capacity to challenge people to be their best – and to call out the best from their tradition. He recalled the moment when Rabbi Levine looked him in the eyes and challenged him to learn about the Jewish roots of Christianity. “But then he smiled at me,” Bill said.
As he told this story, Bill teared up. After so many years, Bill still missed his friend, his teacher, his partner. The Rabbi continued to impact his life.
I asked Bill if he was continuing to grieve for Rabbi Levine. His response was very simple: “Love is like that.” We didn’t need to say any more.
As we approach what would have been Father Treacy’s 103rd birthday, I find myself grieving Bill’s passing. Of course, 103 years of life was a great blessing. How he retained his curiosity, compassion, and courage until the end was a great blessing. Yet, I miss him and I am sure that many of you do as well.
In my office, I have a photo of Rabbi Levine, Martin Goslin, and Father Treacy on set at KOMO TV.
Behind me I have the first photo below, the one taken with Father Treacy and Rabbi Levine in conversation. Every day I am inspired by Rabbi Levine and his capacity to create a strategy to help people see each other as human in response to all the forces that seek to divide us. Every day I am inspired by Father Treacy and his capacity to take the risk of engaging with people of diverse traditions while going to the heart of his own tradition.
They continue to impact and change our lives. Now it’s on all of us to learn from them as we consider our own calling: How is the Creator asking us to be a blessing to one another and the Earth?
When their loss brings tears to our eyes, let’s not resist them – because “Love is like that.”
