We Remember Them

I did manage to get myself up and out into the countryside again this morning, and this time I did one big circle of North Iowa, so I’ve got enough photos to last me until my next outing. I couldn’t believe the number of roadkills I encountered which were either deer carcasses or raccoons. Those numbers seem to dramatically increase once our farmers have all of their crops out, along with the deer going into their mating season, so whenever out in the countryside, be ever-watchful for lust-struck deer jumping out in front of you.

I was a bit tardy getting back, which had me on a burn to get my clothes changed and then head over to St. Paul Lutheran, just to have myself situated before their Services started. I ended up being about ten minutes later than normal, but there was still more than enough time to get settled-in.

All of the music went exceptionally well, which made me very happy, and especially when hearing all the more members singing their hearts out. I was also glad to see their numbers increasing after having counted fifty-two people in attendance. I’m gonna hope those numbers keep rising. I was also happy to see more younger people there, which’ll be the life-blood of their community of faith going forward.

I had mixed emotions about singing for them this morning, but two of their members came up to me and asked if I was going to sing during their communion, so I found something and did another solo. If only I could get the verses memorized so I don’t have to be watching the words while trying to follow the keyboard lines. Oh well, I guess they enjoy it, so that’s all that matters. Because today was the Sunday they were honoring their dead, they had a number of candles up front for people to come forward and light them in honor of their deceased relatives which I found touching.

In today’s handout, they had a section regarding the remembering of our dead which the pastor would read, and then followed with a repeating line the members would answer, and because I was quite taken by it, I decided to share it with you. It’s a poem written by Sylvan Kamens & Jack Riemer and titled, ‘We Remember Them’, and it follows:

 

At the the rising of the sun and its going down
We remember them
At the blowing of the wind and in the chill of the winter
We remember them
At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring
We remember them
At the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer
We remember them
At the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of autumn
We remember them
At the beginning of the year and when it ends
We remember them
When we are weary and in need of strength
We remember them
When we are lost and sick at heart
We remember them
When we have joy we crave to share
We remember them
When we have decisions that are difficult to make
We remember them
When we have achievements that are based on theirs
We remember them
As long as we live, they too will live, for they’re now a part of us as
We remember them

 

As I was reading and answering, I was reminded how often some near and dear deceased members of my family, as well as very close friends, clients and customers would randomly come to mind, and yes, many of those memories are as vivid as though they happened just yesterday.

While out driving this morning, I purposely stopped and took the above photo of a now empty section of field where a branch of my old family raised their children, and every time I see that spot, I’m reminded of all the dysfunction that took place on that property, and because there was an accidental death that took place there many decades ago, I came to believe that over the years, that site became all the more poisoned, and only because of some highly unusual bad happenings that took place in and around that farmstead years later.

As always, there were people living there who must’ve thought they’d live forever, but as you can see, they’re dead and all structural memories of their many years of living there, are completely gone, so perhaps all that generational sadness and dysfunction was swallowed up and fully cleansed by Mother Nature. As much as we push aside the thoughts of our own mortality, whether we like it or not, it’s gonna happen either sooner or later.

While in my darkened contemplative corner this morning, I made sure to add my friend/client who’s under a great deal of stress which is not of her doing, so hopefully my prayers will help to lighten her heavy load. Poor dear.

Tonight’s One-liner is: Start with what’s right rather than what’s acceptable.

Joe Chodur

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