Though I never thought about it at the time (perhaps being so obvious as to be easily neglected amidst the noise of every day), I now see that David was almost constitutionally unable to offend others; everyone who came in contact invariably had positive reactions to his smile, good humor, welcoming approach and, even in the many situations where light at the end of the proverbial tunnel seemed distant, his optimistic approach to development work, David could see and applaud the good in all he came in contact with, and he lived the Taoist poem that has long inspired many at MSH;
Go to the people;
Love them; learn from them;
Start with what they have, build on what they know.
But of the best leaders,
When their task is accomplished, the work is done,
The people will all say, " we have done it ourselves"
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Ron O'Connor