April 27, 2010
We have just spent a weekend having a “Celebration of Life” centered around our fiftieth anniversary and giving thanks for the miracle of my own life continuing in spite of the many implied endings. The wonderful weekend left me totally spent – it takes lots of energy to have such a grand time. I wrote a piece entitled “Should you Ask” to read at the event, and it is printed below.
SHOULD YOU ASK. . .
As years have flown, I have sinned many times
There is much I need not mention
The guard that stood before my lips
was occasionally resting—not paying attention.
I spoke what I thought, no editor present
And what I thought was not always pleasant
But fine forgiveness wipes all away,
And now, no one cares about what I say
However. . .
Should you ask, I would advise:
Choose life with a musician.
True, there are many fine positions.
Electricians… physicians, beauticians,
dieticians, statiscians. . .
Yet. . .
The best is a musician.
You are always near a love song,
you will never give a thought
to life without music or iTunes not bought.
And then, should your musician
have a way with flowers
You’re well equipped to party
at any and all hours.
Should you ask, I would advise:
Cherish and admire your daughters and your sons,
if you are blessed with any or some
They astonish and delight
They frighten and amaze,
They beam bright light
Into otherwise dull days.
It’s the same with the grandchildren
when they arrive on earth,
You’re in the presence of perfection,
Genetic correction!
Words cannot express their inexpressible worth.
Should you ask, I would advise:
That friendships be made and honored thereafter.
These are the people
for prime time and laughter.
Who by their prayers and in their caring
lighten your load by their sharing.
They gladly stand guard
at the corners of your lives
when the way becomes difficult
and the lesser times arrive.
Life brings inevitable encounters with grief
and when they come, this is my belief.
One must look hard for any good thing –
a sunrise or bird’s nest, or a new song to sing.
Should you ask, I would advise:
An on-going conversation
with our God Father/Mother who keep us in hand.
Whose power and grace and ongoing creation
gives us our purpose and a firm place to stand.
It is with God’s presence we are begun
And in this Spirit we all are one.
It is in God’s presence we walk and we run.
We move through our days in the light of the Son.
When our lives end, and end they must,
(Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.)
Our God Father/Mother will fling wide the door
To eternity’s chambers, And then will say
“Welcome home my children, welcome home to stay.
Welcome home my children, welcome home.”