Sunrise/Sunset

In the past two weekends, we have celebrated the wedding of a great-nephew and welcomed his lovely wife into our family; we have also bid tearful good-byes to the mother of a very dear friend. Sunrise/sunset.

The song by the same name is sung at many weddings, including my own. As a younger person, we're captivated by the verses marveling over the young girl and the young man as they grow swiftly into adulthood. It is a most appropriate song to usher in parents of the bride and groom.

Thinking about the same song, it is also a beautiful tribute to the "sunset" of life. "One season following another, laden with happiness and tears." This is the balance of life--happiness and tears, one season flowing into the next.


My fondest thoughts and prayers go out to both groups. We know that  there will be tears along the path of the happily married couple. We pray for them to have the strength it will take to endure. We also pray for them to celebrate all the happy moments, whether small or large. We also know that the lovely family who said an earthly good-bye to their mother this week have endured those tears along the path of her illness. We also know that the release from a frail and withered earthly body is a time of celebration when the spirit is free to soar.

Sunrise...sunset...

Have a fine day.

See the Divine in Simplicity

Keep it simple, stupid. The not to soothing--albeit effective--way of reminding us that as humans we have a terrific way of making the simplest of tasks complex beyond belief. There's an old joke passed through the education community about a dead horse and how the issue would be handled. As imagined, the suggestions range from hiring an outside committee to do an investigational study of the dead horse to putting a lighter rider on the dead horse. Of course, the simple answer--it's a dead horse; dismount--is never discovered since it's just too easy of an answer.

Lately I've been reading a book on our styles of embracing theology. The author brought up an interesting term: functional theology. I like this. It causes me to think about how my theology literally functions in the day-to-day world. I also like simplicity. When I cobble these two together, I allow myself to blessedly see the Divine in Simplicity.

 When we look at the world, we have two choices: to see it in all its messiness with hassles to the left and hassles to the right. In looking at this angle, things seem convoluted at best and hopeless at worst. We never get to see a glimpse of the world and its problems beyond the surface. And the surface is where the "ick" of life tends to rise to the top.

If we choose the second option--looking and searching for the Divine in Simplicity--we start to see the underpinnings of our foundations of the meaning of life for us: faith, love, a spirit of undying and unyielding support for one another. We can see through the "ick" and recognize that there is good. We can be a part of that deeper good.

As we wake up each morning, three things should simply happen: a smile, a stretch, and a prayer of thanks. This is a day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

As we go to sleep at night, three things should simply happen: a smile, a stretch, and a prayer of thanks for being given the chance once again to love one another.

The Divine in Simplicity...

Have a fine day.

Carrie's Songs

I don't listen much to the radio anymore; I buy very little music in general. It just all seems to sound, to some degree, the same. The same electronic and digital finiteness that doesn't allow for the human voice's true sounds to come through...this takes the emotional tug from what we hear. Oh sure, the words are there, but truly hearing a voice in all its purity has a quality to it that is more than good or bad. It allows us to go to a higher level of aesthetic appreciation.

Last night all things worked out and we got to go and hear Carrie sing and play that wonderful acoustical guitar. What a treat. No wires, no electronic voice-altering tricks--just Carrie's pure voice and pure lyrics.

Another reason I tend not to listen to music much anymore is because the lyrics just seem somewhat recycled and predictable. If I listen to ten songs in a row, at least half of them are repetitious at best. Where's the story that my mind is looking for to enjoy the song as a whole?

Carrie's lyrics make sense...they tell a story. They conjure an image. They take you to a place where you can feel yourself being transformed by the lyric and the accompaniment.

A few years ago, Carrie wrote a song about the products of my beloved photography hobby. I hadn't heard the song for quite sometime, but last night as she sang it, I could, in my mind's eye, see a slideshow of various photos that floated along with her words and those lovely sounds from emanated from the guitar.

As the evening ended, Carrie shared a song with the audience that caused a beautiful and harmonious sing-along. A few years back, she gave me the chance of a lifetime by asking me to sing harmony to her lovely voice for her group's first cd; few things in my life have been, at the same time, more intimidating and blissful. Last night as the lyrics and harmony came back to me, I happily joined in the participation that came from a group in an easy and joyful communion with one another.

If you get a chance, go and spend an evening with Carrie D'Esposito and The White Pine League--they'll give you an evening of real and true music that our souls truly love.

Thanks,Carrie--for sharing your words, your music, and your voice.