Dear Bill Hogan
Bill Hogan was a beloved part of the Wheeling community. His heart knew no boundaries of economic class; if you were willing to sit down and talk with him, you were a friend. Right before his death in October 2020, Bill celebrated 49 years in recovery. As a fierce advocate of AA, Bill helped countless individuals into recovery.
Dear Bill Hogan,
I imagine you cavorting with the likes of Seraphim and Cherubim, brunching with an apostle or two to start your day. I already know my imagination won’t begin to turn the knob on the door of the promised mansion, you know “eyes have not seen, ears have not heard what God has readied for those who love him” or something like that. Love is the key, right? I remember like it was yesterday the morning you appeared in my office with excitement beaming across your face. I haven’t had too many apparitions in my life (other than a few drug induced) but I would say my encounter with you is pretty close to that. And like an angel you came with a message. “John, I have to read this to you; it’s a quote from Thomas Merton; ‘our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy. That is not our business and, in fact, it is nobody’s business. What we are asked to do is to love, and this love itself will render both ourselves and our neighbors worthy.’” And then you vanished, well at the speed of an octogenarian, but I wasn’t clocking you.
I’ve kept that quote on my wall to serve as a reminder of what’s most important, if not the only thing important, to fill my day. I have to admit this loving business takes lots of practice but I’ve discovered if one is able to eschew all illusions of importance, the possibilities are within reach. I never did get to thank you for being a kind of magister caritate; I’ve learned much from you about love and life. I’ll keep those lessons on my key ring and hope I can turn the knob someday and catch up. You said once “our guardian angels are always with us, or we wouldn’t be here.” You can serve as mine’s proxy and drop by anytime.
John