Greetings friends! I just got back to the office after attending the funeral service of my friends 21 year old daughter April.  She, along with two others, died in an accidental fire in off campus housing where she attended university.  While at the service, which was moving and beautiful and painful all together, I thought of T.S. Elliot’s landmark poem The Waste Land which has many images of death and rebirth that repeat throughout. I thought of it because of its opening line; “April is the cruelest month…”  During the service a poem was read that April wrote.  I share it with you today without comment because it doesn’t need any.  I wish you well this day.

Life is not a race, so take it slower

Hear the music before the song is over!

Have you ever watched kids on a merry go round?

Or listened to rain slapping the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight?

Or gazed at the sun fading into the night?

You better slow down – don’t dance so fast

Time is short, the music won’t last.

Do you run through each day, on the fly

When you ask “How are you?” do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie your bed

With the next 100 chores running through your head?

You better slow down – don’t dance so fast

Time is short, the music won’t last.

Ever told your child “We’ll do it tomorrow”

And in your haste not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch, let a friendship die,

Cause you never took the time to call and say “Hi”?

You better slow down – don’t dance so fast

Time is short, the music won’t last.

 

Be well my friends.  I am one on the journey with you…….

Pastor Jeff