Tears and laughter...

A prayer for Advent with Dave Matthews Band... with an ode to the Beatles, too.

Come, let us sing to God; * let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before the presence of God with thanksgiving, * raising a loud shout with psalms. For our God is a great God, * and a great Sovereign above all gods. In your hands, O God, are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are yours also. The sea is yours, for you made it, * and your hands have molded the dry land. Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before our Creator. You God, are the Creator, and we are the people of your pasture and the sheep of your hand. Oh, that today we would hearken to your voice! Let us harden not our hearts.

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your Only Begotten to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your dominion. Amen.

So... after evening prayers the spouse of my friend and colleague called: Vicki died tonight at about 6:15 pm. I was with her earlier in the day and it was clear she didn't have long - and now she is gone. Rest in peace, dear sister. We already miss your tender way and servant's heart. I went to the hospital to help folks sort out what to do next and share a prayer for the departed. And then, for some totally random reason, on my way home from the hospital... this crazy ass song popped into my mind: "Box of Candy and a Piece of Fruit.." It is so rude and inappropriate it made me laugh and cry out loud.

So... with apologies to the sensitive among us, here is Bob Gibson and Tom Paxton singing a Shel Silverstein song - not in my friend's memory - but just because there is still laughter amidst the tears.