I feel there is no-one on The Wall who has not been affected by the last months that Bill has lived through with such great courage. Thank you BB for this ta as it gives a space to say how we feel about what has happened for him. Tears of compassion show how much we are connected to others in life and can feel so strongly one for another without necessarily even meeting face to face. That, for me, is the beauty of humanity,

Oh dear - yes it is very sad indeed and I am sure that Bill will be overwhelmed by all the support he has had here on the Wall.  My thoughts go out to him.

Wx 

I think it was Bill's first post and the replies which made me stop and think tha the Wall had really developed a community culture - and in a short space of time.  I can remember the almost sickening moments of Bill's postings about his friends tumour and then death and of course the awful news of his wife's cancer.  I was quite joyful about Bill's son being around for support but also concerned for Bill for what would happen for the future.  But the overwhelming sense I had was one of relief for Bill that there was a place for him - a good place which helped him enormously through the struggle.

Bill's story is probably one of the first complete human crises that the Wall community has dealt with.  If Bill lived in our street, I can see each of you "oldies" of the wall rallying around while those who are newish like me, wonder if we can be of help.

I'm both a bit intrigued and curious that Bill's wife's death has surprised some of you. I guess it means that you are each far more generous with your hearts and spirits than you are aware.  I wonder whether this is something that you are unaware of in your offline communities also. When I read the posts from BB and S1 they are so often filled with empathy and understanding.  I'm not sure that you can offer so much without having something to offer in the first place.

As a community dealing with its first crisis, I am moved by the response to the awful news and Bill's new reality - but can't help myself thinking about how this might shape the community.  It is throught the collective response to events such as these that I believe we get to know ourselves as a group and really establish the BWW as an empathetic support group.  The Wall is so much more than a few words that could be heard with a cup of tea.  Really - you dear "oldies" of the wall have built this culture for others to come and share - the Wall itself is just a tremendously clever idea - an opportunity - a vehicle for expression -but it is what each of you and others bring that makes it so precious and so worthy.  Certainly not something to be taken for granted.

Our response to Bill's sadness probably fulfills a few dreams in the world of those who put the Wall together.  So in sharing in the sadness of one of our own's grief, I am also moved to feel so relieved that this is a community which is alive and well(in the buddhist sense) and a model for other communities that we live in.

 That thought I posted - We only learn from the experiences that we learn from- is what I reflecting on.  We learn so much of ourselves as individuals but also as a group by what we do and building it into our responses to others.  

Yes there are tears and tradgedy - but also a need to reflect upon what is so wonderful about this community too.