A reasonable question. Probably three fourths of the people on my list have never heard of Hayden except from me.

Without telling the whole story I found myself writing, "Hayden Stewart was like I imagine Jesus might have been had he lived to be an old man."

Hayden of course would have been put off by such an answer. I was a bit surprised myself. So I thought about why I said it.

Hayden never pulled off any miracles like walking on water or raising the dead, but I doubt Jesus did either. There are, however, those who will tell you that he was instrumental in radically changing their lives, raising them from "the dead."

Hayden never made any claims about an inside track to the Almighty, but neither did Jesus. But Hayden, like Jesus, sought a one-ness in spirit with God. Like Jesus, he spent time seeking the direction of the Spirit in his life. He thought of God as the depth within.

Like Jesus, Hayden was aware of people. He was intuitive, seeming to know their feelings before they spoke them. The gospels report that Jesus was like that. Both loved people, cared about them, affirmed them, enjoyed them. Hayden seemed to be blind to the kind of differences most of us notice. His circle included achievers and people who were down and out. He treated poor and wealthy the same. He didn't notice sexual or racial differences.

Hayden was able to get beyond caring what people think. He enjoyed being unpredictable and saying the unexpected. Jesus was remembered for aphorisms, brief and memorable sayings. Hayden was always quick with a turn of a word or thought.

There was an attractiveness about Hayden. I've watched him in a crowd many times. People would gather to him. Old, teens and children. Was it his twinkle, his obvious interest, his smile, his wit, his long white hair and beard?

Hayden was a universal spirit. I'm not sure exactly what I mean by that. There are spiritual people who are much larger than any category. For instance, the Buddha was a Hindu, but his outlook was far larger. Jesus was a Jew whose spirit exceeded his roots. Neither could be claimed by any religion or theology. Both were more into being and doing than into professing and building. Hayden could think and speak theologically, but his life was more about centering and opening and growing.

When he turned 90 Hayden came out with a plan for his 90's. What he wanted to do was to grow! I would like to think Jesus would have been like that in his old age.

This last fall we spent a few days with Hayden in Vancouver. One afternoon we went out to find some fish and chips at one of his favorite restaurants. He directed while I drove. I'm sure that if he had been driving we would have made all the right turns. As it was, we went across a bridge and missed our turn. Never mind, we would go back and try it again. We missed a second time. Never mind, we'll go back and try again! This time we made it. We all laughed. He asked us not to tell anyone lest they think he was getting old and forgetful. We knew that was not the case as he guided us all over that city, showing us sights and offering memories along the way. He knew where he was and who he was.

I believe something of the spirit of Hayden will always be with me. There was too much life in him to have it simply run out and go away. Friends of Jesus thought the same about him. I'll always remember the reverence with which he referred to Jesus as "the Master." For Hayden it was not a designation of power but of leadership and example. Hayden was that for me throughout his 92 years.

When Hayden was a young man he looked to Jesus as a model for his life. If Jesus was an old man he could look at Hayden as a model for his life.

Jesus left a lot of stories, but his life was so brief they had to repeat the stories four times to make a book. I would argue that Hayden left far more stories, including inspired wisdom and insights, as well as wonders of broken lives made whole, dimmed vision cleared, and emptiness made full. He spent a life-time doing just what I think Jesus would have done had he lived to be an old man.