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Sporadic photos and notes from a Psyche-midwife, cheerleader, anthropologist--aka clinical social worker in therapy practice. Photos are usually mine except for those of historical events/famous people. Music relevant to the daily topic is often included in a web video embedded below the blog. Click on highlighted links in the copy to get to source or supplemental material. For contact information, see my website @ janasvoboda.com or click on the button to the right below. Join in the conversation.

Friday, January 18, 2013

January 19th Challenge: Honor memories of loved ones

Tonight's post is dedicated to those souls touched our own and have left this earth.

I'm working on tomorrow's memorial service for a beautiful friend.  Annie died as she lived, full of love and spirit, smiling, curious.  She loved her family, the beach, the mountains, music, moving her body, art, her family, and Spirit-- the Source of all love and wisdom.  Her legacy is one of continuous testament to that openness and love.She had a belly laugh like you wouldn't believe.  She wasn't a saint, although she seems pretty darn close to me. Her husband told me a story this week of her killing black flies with great glee and determination.  Anne was full-on Human, and it's hard to imagine her gone from this earth.

But in many ways she isn't.  Her life and even her death changed many of us who knew her.  When I am cranky and complaining, I think of her radiant smile and sunny nature.  When I catch myself in the mirror while I'm eating, I remember how many pictures I have of her with her mouth full and chewing.

Last night I got stuck trying to write her service.  After much useless time trying to get moving, I went to my piano.  I've played it maybe once in the last six months.  I got out a hymnal and opened it to a song, and began to play:

What Wondrous Love Is This

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,
What wondrous love is this, O my soul?
What wondrous love is this, that brings my heart such bliss,
and takes away the pain of my soul, of my soul,
and takes away the pain of my soul.

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down
When I was sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, beneath my sorrows ground,
friends to me gathered round, O my soul, O my soul,
friends to me gathered round, O my soul.

To love and to all friends, I will sing, I will sing,
To love and to all friends, I will sing.
To love and to all friends, who pain and sorrow mend,
with thanks unto the end, I will sing, I will sing,
With thanks unto the end, I will sing.

Today's challenge is to remember and honor a life that has passed, in whatever way you see fitting.

Related posts:  
using-others-eyes-to-see.html
http://www.janasvoboda.org/2010/09/grief-101-guidelines.html

In memory of Anne Burton, Jennifer DeVries, Dennis Smothers, William Svoboda, Mark Franklin, and Ansel Reed.
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1 comment:

Kiesa said...

I'm working on a tree-planting memorial service for a friend; we'll dine on his favorite meal, and place a handmade bench by a creek as we plant his favorite type of tree. It's planned out in much detail. Five people are coordinating this effort. And yet when I read this fine assignment, all I could think was, today's my weekend. I need a day off from death. I'm so tired of dancing with dead dreams. When comes the time to embrace living? Then it occurred to me: we honor our dead by living with as much grace, courage, and beauty as we can muster.

January 19, 2013 at 4:38 AM

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