July 25, 2013 We are privy to so much information these days. Picking and choosing becomes an essential commitment. Having been blessed with lots of receivings lately, it’s tough to underline one over another, but the heart does respond when something special comes our way. One like this: “Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning how to dance in the rain.” (Ever had that ‘wish I’d thought of that’ feeling? It’s attributed to Vivian Green). When something like this ‘grabs’ you-- the point becomes not “I’ve heard that before,” or “O my, what nice poetry,” or even “Gonna put that on my fridge.” It’s "am I, are we, dancing in the rain?" Having a partner in the dance makes it better. People interpret ‘dance’ in different ways. Here we speak of the holy dance. This one that begins inside. ‘They cut me down, and I leapt up high, I am the life that will never, never die, I’ll live in you if you’ll live in me, I am the Lord of the dance said he. Dance then wherever you may be, I am the Lord of the dance said he, and I’ll lead you all wherever you may be, I am the Lord of the dance said he.’ That’s verse five of Lord of the Dance in our Hymnal. (261) Makes you want to join The Dance doesn’t it? Let me add that a while ago someone at the door of the Church said: “You know, I’ve come to see the Hymnal as such a blessing and teaching tool. I like the new music too, praise songs and projectors have their place, but some of the songs with book in hand have become dynamite to my soul.” Today is the birthday of my partner in the dance, Patsy Joyce Myrick Tonkel. We danced together for almost forty-two years. I write now without tears, but only because the dance goes on. She should be the first and priority paragraph here, but hers was the way of background support and full and quiet integrity. WellsFolk spoke of her as the “Gray hair showing from the organ bench. ” She believed that the accompaniment should enhance and support the singing, but never overwhelm it. She lived like that as well. We danced through storm and sunshine. She died with an astrocytoma in June of 2009. Not an easy death. Pat, our family pragmatist, the lady who could not lie, the one among us who wanted to know why, but could wait: “We’ll find out by and by.” We rejoiced in love, danced in the coming of our children (Tracy, Shelley, Anthony, and other children-in-love who became our own) and grandchildren, “My, My,” she often said, “How I love my boys.” (Our three grands from Tracy and Jeff,: Porter, Carson, and Griffin) Six weeks ago, Pat came to visit again. In the birth of Reese Emory Herndon (Shelley and Christopher). She was not there in the flesh, oh, how I wish she could have been, but trust me, she was present in spirit, and we all knew it: We could not look at this lovely baby girl without seeing our beloved Pat as well. Grace and thanks and love to you dear lady. You deserve the Congressional Medal of Honor. OK, so the tears did come. No apology dear friends, only gratitude for a marriage that accepted storm and sunshine, but kept on dancing. Several of you were charitable enough to ask if we would continue this Shared Time together (still think ‘blog’ needs baptizing). Yes. If any could profit from it. We have an evening service at Wells. It’s at 7 and only a few come. Why do it for so few? Because it’s the only chance for worship for some who work, and the downstairs meeting place is good for people with special needs. That to say this: If one or two of you are there, and we can be of any service, then gladly we worship and gladly we write. Yesterday: Last radiation, a graduation service (little diploma too!). A ringing of the GONG (!) surrounded by a company of our most beloved WellsFolk and members of the team that treated us, home to three rosesfrom one of our daughters and her family, a few at the house for refreshments (wish I could taste the goodies) and---the ability to hit the gong with a pretty good shot.* All an immersion in overwhelming grace. Dear God and all who have cared and do care for us and others---what healing and blessing you bring. Bless you back. Recuperation continues. It would be great to say that a marvelous night followed a glorious day. Can’t. But ‘sufficient was the day to bear the challenge of the night Pat’s birthday: one of God’s chosen women. Our always love continues. I waddled into the dim breakfast area at daybreak to find a smiling get well balloon, and two of the neatest homemade cards: One a get well for me, and the other a thank you mother and friend (with dainty plant) from Anthony. That’s enough to make one want to fight on toward health and well being.. Come on, if you’re having a mope and ‘sit it out’ day---let’s dance. Look! There! A hint of sun on the other side of the clouds! Always Love, always, Keith *Tomorrow: About the three roses.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Jul 2013 12:58:43 +0000
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