In rememberance of Steven Ford

It is with a heavy heart that I inform you all that A dear friend Steven A ford took his life September 7th and has transcend into the force. Services will be held in West Vally city, Utah. Time and Exact location is yet to be decided.

Thank you all that knew and loved him He will be remembered in your hearts.



http://templeofthejediorder.org/component/option,com_kunena/Itemid,96/func,fbprofile/task,showprf/userid,535/

I must confess that this has knocked me sideways. I only spoke to Steve on a few occasions but I know of his contributions to the Order and he will be sorely missed.

RIP on the next stage of your journey into the Force, Knight Steven. MTFBWY

Brother Steve!

Oh wow! That certainly is a piece of hammer news. Very unexpected. I am lost for words. Thanks Swamidave for informing us.

I just lost a colleague at work, who took his own life. I believe Steve had family. It takes alot to take such a step.

I will work on a memorial service in his memory the week after next. If anyone wants to PM me any infos or thoughts please feel free.

MTFBWY always Brother Steve.

Grand Master Jon

By Steven Ford:

Last weekend with my munchkin, i was watching him play with his toys and I noticed something. he has all kinds of transformers, star wars toys, and super hero (mostly Spidey) figures; and they were all getting along.

in his almost 4 year old imagination world, megatron and optimus are friends. even though he's seen the movie and loves it. Vader and Mace hugged in his play world. even though he knows the movies better than I do. Spidey and Doc Ock said they loved each other when we had just watched the movies a while again.

so I'm sitting there noticing how all his toy interactions love each other, and of course he loves everything except bed time and being made to eat his food before desert; and I wonder, is this just my kid? No i think not- I watched my girlfriends youngling (half a year younger than mine), and it is the same, everything loves everything.

numerous thoughts pop in my head, the first being I may have not needed to pay the extra money to make sure he had a good guy and bad guy toy- maybe he just needs the good guys. But on a more serious note, Why can't we see things like this?

When did we change to see the difference between good guys and bad guys? when did Optimus and Megatron or Vader and Mace; in our minds anyway- have to be enemies? he doesn't see a good guy and bad guy, he See's two people who are the same. Both use the force and have a lightsaber, they both bleed, they both have feelings. why not love each other- we aren't so different, we're both transformers. How about we stop fighting and hug?

I really think there is a lot to this my friends. if we could find that spark that children have; maybe just in a small way stop seeing people as good or bad, black or white, big or small, autobot or deceptacon i think that illusive concept of peace is close. not with toys but with life, with our dealings. stop seeing people for what they did or do, or what they look like, and how they act. stop seeing my ex wife, annoying co worker, or rude boss. just a person.

imagine it- combine an adults intelligence with a child's love. so I'm pondering how do we become kids again? I think some though on this is required. please add your ideas and thoughts. lets keep this going and figure out how to be grown up kids.

as for me i'm going to start playing with my son's action figures (besides they are soo much cooler then when I was a kid) and see if i can figure out how to make peace with Spidey and Doc Ock.

By Steven Ford:

To all you dad's with me in the ranks,

\"Anyone can be a father, it takes someone special to be a dad (especially a Jedi dad)\"

-unknown

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!!

I hope your day is filled with love and many good memories to last your life.

MTFBWY

By Steven Ford:

Hello all,

I've been on here for a good long time (joined in 2007), many of you don't know me as I'm usually on late at night and don't post as much as I used to. I've always followed the Jedi path even before I joined the temple, and I became a Minister when I joined. The path of the Jedi is not easy (we'll can all agree on that) but I've remained dedicated to the Force and with it on my side, I've overcame a good many struggles in life. I've been honored to be a Knight, Minister, and member of this temple.

That being said, I'm announcing I'm going on a leave of abscence for an unspecified amount of time. Recent events have forced me to question myself and my future here. I feel it's time to examine where I belong and where I want to go. So I'll be soul searching. When I figure how things fit and how I fit in things I'll be more able to return or do what the Force wants me to do.

There are a variety of reasons I feel the way I do, most of them I prefer not to post here. If anyone has any questions or concerns I do get PM notifications in my regular e-mail and will answer any questions anyone has.

I should say to be clear that no one said or did anything to upset me; so it's not a situation like that.

It has been my honor and pleasure to be a part of this community and learn all I've learned and do all the fantasic things here. Thank you all for what you've done for me.

May The Force Be With You Always

i remember reading some of these posts when they were made.

it's rare that i'm surprised by anything, and i must admit that this one is a bit of a surprise.

you will be missed. mtfbwy and your children.

I swore out when i read this but for forum use - OMG will do

I really shocked by this (btw, do the folks at totjf know?)

Stevef contributed a lot to this site - and his contributions remain as does he with the force - I hope hi family can find some solice with the thought that he is not entirely gone and that the force (or who / whatever) will be with them at this very difficult time.

MTFBWY - A Steve

This was just two years ago. I'm in shock.

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=4189573

I know, that in the last time, we was a little far from here, he explain to me why, he give me some of his time...
I feel really bad...
but in the other hand, he is part of the force now.... even maybe I'm jealous

now, I'm confused ...
The last 2 o 3 days, a forgot the force, I didn't talk with myself, like always,
Now he is gonna be there doing the universal equilibrium even better

for some reason for a few seconds a feel empty...


I'm gonna re read Steven, maybe we all need to,

THANK YOU STEVEN

Alejandro Mascaro

999

This is sad to hear, I did not know him well, but I hope him well in his next plane of existence, and I hope the best for his family and friends, this will be a hard time for them, and they will need as much kindness as they can get... my hopes go out to them and hope they do not let the darkness of a situation like this bring them too far down.

...I'll never fully comprehend how a person can get so far that taking one's life becomes an option, I understand wanting things to end, but things would have to be really bad to be willing to hurt so many for one's own relief...

I guess I find peace in the fact that his pain is over and he is one with the force now

Stevef... may you're journey continue in ways we can't even comprehend

I do appoligize for not posting this earlyer With everything going on I missed posting here. Services were Held Saturday the 11th and I figured better late than never.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/saltlaketribune/obituary.aspx?n=steven-ford&pid=145207905

Thank you Swamidave. His for us new photo and obituary brought Steve alot closer more personal. That certainly went to my heart.

I am in total shock on this. may we all remember the frailty of life and cherish it as well as cherish those we know and are around us each day...

This is very sad news. He seemed like he was very active in his community and had many people who cared dearly for him. Sometimes when people get to a certain point of despair, it's hard for them to see the love that's still in their lives. When I read some of the posts he had made, especially the ones about his children, it broke my heart to know those children would be growing up without their dad. I know he must have been in terrible pain but I wish he had chosen a different option. At least he is at peace now.

I am saddened upon hearing of Brother Steve’s passing. I cannot begin to fathom the amount of inner anguish he must have felt that led him to decide that taking his own life was the only possible answer.

He will be missed and I wish him peace in the force.

Knowing that Steve was a giving and loving soul I believe that I would not be diminishing his honor or memory in taking this moment to remind the membership that if anyone is troubled, please do not allow that trouble to manifest itself to the degree that we see on this sad occasion. Don’t be content for a plea for help to fade unanswered in the shout box, everyone is available via PM… pick someone you are comfortable with; say what is on your mind and post…I do not believe that there is a Jedi here who would ignore it. We are here to support and serve each other just as well as the general public.

May the Force be with us all.

I'm reasonably sure Grand Master father Jon wont mind me reminding the community that on the 24the September in our chat room - FrJon is leading TWO memorial services for Master SteveF at 12:00 and 24:00 GMT.

ALL are welcome and very much encouraged to attend

We will repost a reminder nearer the time and I will add it to the calender as well.

MTFBWY - A

Memorial service will be held tomorrow in Chat for everyone on Friday 24th September 2010 at 12:00 and 24:00 hrs GMT.

I need one member to take over the resposes on the part of the members. Please PM me and I will send a copy of the ceremony.

Also I ask all members to prepare each a piece of thoughts, ready to post in the condolence section, to help the ceremony run more smoothly.

MEMORIAL SERVICE

For: Master Steve Ford
Celebrant: Grand Master Jon
Respondant & Master of Ceremony: Master Mark Anjuu
Participants: Please have a candle at hand which will be lit at a given time during the ceremony; a ready writen condolence or short sentence which can be posted at a given time during the ceremony.

Place: Chat
Time: 11:00 & 23:00 hrs GMT; 12:00 hrs & 24:00hrs BST
Date: 24 September

Please no chatting during the ceremony (ensured by Master Mark Anjuu).
The ceremony will be copied and pasted later here.