It was my birthday on August 16th, the same day that Elvis died by chance, and also the day of a friend’s memorial service. Unable to take the day off from work, I did somehow manage to attend the funeral and as I sat down for the service, all I could think was that I hoped it would end quickly, that I could get back to work and that no one would stop me to bend my ear for too long.
My deceased friend Jan had died of cancer and as many, if not all, of us know, this took some time. Jan was a forward thinking person and so had planned the service. With a voice from the great beyond, Jan spoke thru poetry, thru music, thru song, thru scripture and thru the words of her family, friends, and coworkers.
The cumulative power of Jan’s life force mounted as the service proceeded and I found myself transported into the heart and soul of a woman whose time with us was all too short. People spoke of her living for others and not for herself, of her teaching and listening, of her care even though she was suffering, of her bravery and love.
With tears and trembling, one of her piano students played five times during the service. She shook off her grief before each piece as a boxer would shake off a stiff jab to the chin, and then with great delicacy she awakened the piano and built tapestries of chords so intricate, so fragile, so lovely. I closed my eyes and let the tears flow down my face as I was transported to a heavenly realm. And then like thunder she pummeled the keyboard into submission. Hitting the keys with such force, I believed I saw the grand piano jump from the floor, and then silence. Metaphorically speaking thru the music, Jan had reached into each of us and shown that we build, we crescendo, and ultimately we are silent.
Her simple scripture choice was from the Apostle Paul- “I beg of you- live a life worthy of your calling.” and to me these few word were strong medicine. I beg you, I beg you… when was the last time someone begged you to be whatever height was available for you to reach so that sometime in the future there might be a little more love in this world for the next child, a little more grace in this world for the mistakes that we all make, a little more peace in the midst of all the conflict that we seem to generate as we fight to get our way and pad our pockets with the fruit of defeating someone else.
The more time that goes by, the more I believe that every second of our human experience is part of a divine and unfolding masterpiece, perfect in everyway or it is not yet. This unfolding mystery is illuminated for the blessed few who are given the window of time at death to taste the succulence of divinity and Jan did not upon discovering its fragrance put a bite into her mouth. She has instead, handed this ripe fruit to you and I.
This was the best birthday gift I have ever received. Thank you Jan. xo Paul
