Circling Servant
Unity Day 2005

In the Spring of 2002 I was introduced to Unity Day. Unity Day is an event here in New England that brings many Communities of Unit 1 together for a day of enjoyment. It is a full day, starting with breakfasty type nourishment mixed in with an assortment of hugs as the room fills with couples from all over. Followed by a presentation, 10-10 and group sharing. After a box lunch, we participate in a Unit 1 auction. There is a pleasant exchange of laughter, humorous things are said and done. The items auctioned is comprised of homemade items, white elephant type things, unnecessary items from around the home are “gifted” or “re-gifted” as it’s called. All done in fun to help our cause.

This Auction was a new experience for me, more specifically….the Memorial items.
1. Carrot with a Magnet
2. A “Bear Couple” complete with a travel diary
3. A model car, what? A 57 Chevy?

These items memorialized people I never knew, but their devotion to Marriage Encounter has been recognized every year, and continues to this day.

Later that year in 2002, a member of our community, Mr. Hal Mikkelson died. I had met him only once. I asked fellow Community members if it would be appropriate to make a memorial item on his behalf. After some positive feedback, this item was designed and make out of natural colored woods of the world.

This item was revealed to our community in April of 2003. Many of the couples present then are here with us today for this years’ rendition of Unity Day.

Prior to the Unity Day Auction in 2003, my wife and I were sitting out on the front steps of the Church in Sturbridge, Mass., enjoying the warmth of the spring sunshine. Mrs. Gerda Mikkelson, Hal’s surviving spouse, came up to us and started a conversation about the memorial that was recently completed. Gerda had been shown the memorial a few days earlier. She had questions about the design, time it took to make, etc. It was obvious that she relished the memorial, now referred to as Hal’s Honor. Gerda was specifically amazed at the natural colors of the wood.

I told her that I brought some pieces of the wood that were cut away in forming the heart and rings. Gerda asked to see them. I gave them to her in a small plastic bag…..and in an expression of love…..one I’ll never forget….Gerda clutched this little bag of colored wood parts, held the bag to her chest, then raised the bag to the Heaven above and cried out “Hal, this is my love for you!”

I choked back tears when I witnessed this outcry of devotion.

A short time later the Auction started. Hal’s Honor had only been seen by a few couples and was soon to be revealed to a much larger audience. A very nice velvet type material was sewn to make a storage bag with a draw string and the ME logo was sewn on to the front. Thank you Nancy for this touch of elegance. The presentation was breathless.

The bidding soon started for Hal’s Honor. The anticipation was electric. The Community received this Memorial in an astonishing fashion. As the bidding moved on….the room became eerily quite. Quiet solemn emotion was everywhere. As I glanced around, tears were evident on many couples faces, mine included. Here was Gerda, a widowed spouse, longing to have possession of Hal’s Honor for the first year, and was determined to succeed. The Community on the other hand was equally determined to not allow Gerda to out bid them. Our community showed a reflection of love and devotion to a fellow couple like I have never seen before. I have learned a lot about love in this community and our fellowship.

The Auction was halted at a point when the Auctioneer realized what was occurring. Hal’s Honor was awarded to the last bid, which was the Community. Then Hal’s Honor was quickly presented to Gerda for the first year. It is hard to find the words to describe the heavy emotion that was present in the room during the bidding…..which lasted close to 7 - 10 minutes. If you were there, you know the feeling I am describing.

In making Hal’s Honor, the intention was seemingly simple:
Recognition of a long time advocate of Marriage Encounter
Provide a continual source of revenue for Unit 1
Utilize my woodworking skills to make an object for display in any and all rooms of a house.

I was not prepared for the lesson of love, displayed during those quiet spiritual packed moments during the bidding. It was a Circle of Love like I had never seen before.

There was the pride and dedication of a Spouse who placed so much love, loyalty and dignity towards this “object,” called Hal’s Honor.

The moments of silence during this bidding were long and heavy, as couples of the Community gave of themselves, to in turn, award the memorial to Gerda for the first year.

This was a Circle of Love shown by God’s Servants of Love.

Gerda wanted this memorial to take before her Congregation. She wanted her family members to see it in her home, and to have it near her heart. I’m sure she found comfort in many ways during that year.

In the hours that passed, I wondered…..
Did you ever imagine such emotion?
What made Hal’s Honor so special? And lastly…
Can this spirit be shared or caught in another way?

The rush of the day along with the successful event captured my spirit. My subconscious strode to answer those questions and take on the challenge “Can This Spirit Be Shared or Caught In Another Way?” What to do? What to do?

That night I could not fall asleep. Tossed and turned, over and over, my mind was racing….What to do? I could not turn my brain off and fall asleep.

At 3:00 AM the “Circling Servant” was conceived. This new object would transcend in many ways. The object would not be a memorial, however it’s duration of ownership will be annually renewable….at Unity Day of course! To a new couple….or…..the same couple….pending the results of a spirited auction. The “Circling Servant” would be designed to capture the Emotion and Spirit of our Marriage Encounter Community.

The “Circling Servant” is a serving tray. Many of you have seen these type trays….this one is a bit different. The sides are higher for holding and serving more love. The design has a story. The “Circling Servant” will have wood from each of the five continents to represent the areas of the world where Marriage Encounter spreads it roots in the institution of marriage.

This tray would be built for Unity Day 2004 – where it would be revealed. But something happened. In 2003, we attended National Convention in DeKalb, Ill. The “Circling Servant” became infected with “National Conventionitis.” What was one tray of the world’s wood, became one tray of each continent, in addition to one of the world.

The first Circling Servant was Daktari, donated to the Presbyterian Marriage Encounter fund raiser for the Kenya, Africa mission efforts.

The Circling Servant World Woods (wood from each Continent)
Daktari Africa
The Rising Sun Asia
Babylon Europe
Northern Lights North America
Southern Exposure South America

Q: Can this spirit be shared or caught in another way?