Please Stand By

"Just kind of a tough day but I'll return tomorrow." ~Joseph Primm

Parable of Immortality

Finding words to comfort someone when they lose a loved one can be a search into the deepest parts of our hearts. A parent loses a child or a parent slips from us; a spouse, friend or sibling can leave an aching hole inside. The words are only meant to help soothe the void but can never replace our loved one. Only the memories fill the void, gathering inside and healing pain with time.

When I lost my mother, a brother shared the following poem by Henry Van Dyke called "A Parable of Immortality" and helped begin the process of letting go. A process of letting go the natural connection and beginning the supernatural connection to a lost loved one. I still talk to my mother through loving memories and with a respect for what I believe lay beyond our life here.

So it is that I share with some dear friends that very recently lost their son in a tragic incident. I also share it for anyone that has lost a loved one. Words to help soothe the void and help begin the process of loving rememberance.

A Parable of Immortality

I am standing upon the seashore.

A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze

and starts for the blue ocean.

She is an object of beauty and strength,

and I stand and watch until at last she hangs

like a speck of white cloud

just where the sea and sky come down to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says,

" There she goes! "

Gone where?

Gone from my sight . . . that is all.

She is just as large in mast and hull and spar

as she was when she left my side

and just as able to bear her load of living freight

to the place of destination.

Her diminished size is in me, not in her.

And just at the moment

when someone at my side says,

" There she goes! "

there are other eyes watching her coming . . .

and other voices ready to take up the glad shout . . .

" Here she comes! "

More Cowbell

"You have to take risks. We will only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen." ~Paulo Coelho

There is a very funny skit from Saturday Night Live called "More Cowbell". The premise that something so out of place as a cowbell is the perfect answer for something lacking. I can hear the clanging cowbell already.

Its interesting that something so unexpected can change the whole atmosphere around our lives. The unexpected things that happen can have a surprising and positive effect. A change in tone, a stranger crossing our path or different road taken home. Each of them, while seemingly insignificant can create this unexpected change in your life.

Maybe its an oversimplification but even something unexpected as a cowbell can actually add more to your life. Embrace what you can by trying something different. Change up the ordinary and see what types of opportunities occur. When life becomes stagnant, shout out for "more cowbell" and see what happens.

Noah Created Movement

"March on. Do not tarry. To go forward is to move toward perfection. March on, and fear not the thorns, or the sharp stones on life's path." ~Kahlil Gibran

If you could share something with the world, would you wait until it was perfect? Or would you get it out there even if the rough edges had yet to be smoothed over?

My brother-in-law's grandson has learned to sign pretty darn well while still only being 7 years old. His mother has been hearing impaired since birth if memory serves me correctly, so signing is a matter of everyday activity. It becomes natural over time, but learning both spoken language and sign language is a feat in itself.

So with the perfection of a seven year old boy, the video below is him signing the story of Noah's Ark.



The words being signed are as follows;

~~~~~

Hi, I will tell you a story about Noah's ark. God told Noah to build an ark and he said “Noah, I want you to build an ark”. His three sons helped him. He said “I want your family and animals safe. So that way move to a different country. So you can have a better life.” And when he was finished, he saw the animals coming.

So he opened the door, all the animals came into the ark. He put all the animals where they should be. His family packed everything. And when he was going in water, God said “Noah your family is safe, now you can go to a different country.” And he was going to a far away country with storms coming, rain and lightning, all over every where.

After the storm he was in a different country. God said “You have done a good job keeping your family safe.” He was happy that God said that. So he saw a colorful sky, he saw a rainbow in the sky. And that is all the story about Noah's ark.

~~~~~

My intent was to show you the innocent beauty of a child telling an age-old story. It was also my intent to give an example of someone moving forward with what they know. While not perfect or completely polished, a young child bravely shows what he can do to all that will watch.

Each of us need to move forward in our lives, unafraid that we may not be perfect. The polished edges are not yet apparent but only with movement can they be smoothed. A rock tumbler will do no good if it sits motionless. It is in the movement and tumbling of the rocks inside which accomplishes the polished finish. The same can be said of our lives. When we create movement and step out from being idle, only then will great things begin to happen.

Take the example of a young boy bravely stepping out to show the world his signing ability. He has started a movement in his life that will bring wonders to everyone around him. In return, the rough and tumble experiences will cause him to shine even more.

Create that kind of movement in your life.