EULOGY ON THE OCCASION OF THE PASSING OF FREDERICK MORFAW, MD, PhD
Frederick’s father, the late Justice Morfaw, was my friend. His children and mine grew up together. So, my sympathy goes to all those impacted by Fred’s death.
I am usually not radical in the way I tackle things. I am no radical. Far from it.
I also try not to jump to conclusions, no matter the subject.
Ultimately, I think I am a realist.
Perhaps as a result of my age and experience.
But, not necessarily.
Therefore, the sudden death of Frederick should not be approached with drama.
Does it hurt? Sure, it does.
Was his death a surprise? Obviously, yes.
Do you think he was expecting death? Certainly not this early.
We respond to things that hurt,
To surprises,
To expectations,
To disappointments,
Even to happy events, only as HUMANS.
We also tend to respond to events one event at a time.
Yesterday, I sent a small cheque to St Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, TN.
St Jude specializes in childhood cancers. Childhood cancers?
There were some 400,000 childhood cancers in the world in 2018.
Some of the patients at St Jude are only a few months old.
I couldn’t resist asking myself ‘Why do babies have cancer?’
‘Why does disease happen?’
‘And why do young men die?’
Unless we detach ourselves from things that hurt,
From things that surprise us,
From things that disappoint us,
And why not, from things that please,
We cannot attain true peace.
Death is always a surprise, but it affords us an opportunity for reflection and to find true peace.
And so, I invite Frederick’s spouse, his children, his mother,
His friends, his family … to step back from this calamity and reflect deeply.
Let us not react as if we will never see Fred again.
We must cultivate what Bishop Barron calls radical trust in the Almighty.
He loves us, and will surely take care of Fred’s family.
To react negatively to pain, to disappointments, even to death
Is, in my view, to indulge in FEAR. Yet, with God, there is no FEAR.
Frederick, remain in the peace of the Lord. We will see you again!
Dr Fidelis Morfaw
Prosper, Texas
24 June 2020
