A Tribute to President George H. W. Bush

Long ago in a windswept desert,
a man named Moses encountered a bush.
It was far from an ordinary one.
It was aflame with meaning.
What Moses saw and heard
conveyed a Divine Presence.
Because he was on sacred soil,
he took off his shoes.
It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
But he was not the only one to witness the remarkable.

We, too, have encountered an extraordinary Bush.
His name was George.
And like that bush of old,
he was ablaze with life.
This son of a Senator
grew up to be more than a wealthy Texas oilman.
Much more.

He was a twenty-year old war hero.
A congressman.
An ambassador.
CIA Director.
Vice-President.
And our 41st President.

He was a source of both warmth and light.
Wherever he stood was holy ground.
To be in his presence was a source of amazement.
In a political wasteland,
George H. W. Bush was a unique shrub of beauty.
In the barren desert of disunity,
he was a welcomed oasis of cooperation.
His kind and gentle demeanor
was a refreshing breath of fresh air
in an environment polluted
by mean-spirited backbiting political partisan rancor.

Our former Chief Executive modeled humility, decorum and dignity.
He listened to the men and women around him
while clearly speaking his mind.
His dream for our country was a vision of a Promised Land.
Like Moses, he called his people to picture a milk-and-honey-like future.
He broke down walls with former adversaries
as he heeded the call of a first century rabbi
to love our enemies.
He reached across the aisle
to join hands with others
whose goal in life was more than
simply being re-elected.

As we read George’s lips,
we could hear George’s heart.
Last Friday George Herbert Walker Bush
heard a Robin sing
(and a companion of 73 years rejoice)
as the gates of Heaven opened
to welcome this remarkable patriot
to his eternal home.

Peace to his memory!