On Tuesday, I was stuck in a stupid snowstorm that did not allow me to carry on with the plans I had made, the road was literally closed. This was okay because the activities that we needed to access down the road were cancelled anyway, we just did not realize this when the policeman turned us around and so I was frustrated. I had managed to get Kodren to the high school for baseball and I was not about to go all the way home and then come back out again so the other two kids and I headed to the local library. As I sometimes do, I said a small prayer and then went searching for a book that would grab me. I found it. It was titled "Skellig" by David Almond. It was a beautiful book, in story and in presentation. And one of the characters pulled me in with her constant quoting of the poems of William Blake. I knew of Mr. Blake, but I had never explored closely, but Mina had intrigued me and now I needed to study the words of Blake. So, I went back to the library today and located a small volume of Blake's work. I sat in my car as Malachi had his hair cut and read the preface to the book which contained a short biography of Blake. I was stunned to read that he felt strongly about the same thing that has been so strong in my mind of late. The idea that we are not alone, that those who have died before are working to help us and strengthen us. This biography stated that Blake was a visionary man and had a special witness at the time of his brother's death that told him that his brother's spirit was free and elated and he claims that his brother appeared to him throughout the remainder of his life to bring him aid and inspiration. Given what he accomplished, I have no reason to doubt his assertion. But reading this gave me chills. I was reminded of the very real presences I felt when I was in the UK (both in England and Wales) and the continued evidences that keep coming my way that I stand on the shoulders of giants that went before me, both my ancestors and others, and that these souls who have gone before are a resource that few of us utilize to the full potential.
I likely sound crazy to most reading this, but this is my blog and I need to get this personal inspiration recorded. Recently someone pointed out to me that I am in a "Hannah" phase in my life because I am trying to patiently stand by as my daughter is spending 18 months of her life serving God, just as Hannah gave Samuel to God to serve in his temple, in that beautiful old testament story. Because of being thus told, I have been studying the story and life and words of Hannah and I have been strengthened in ways that I never anticipated. Hannah is mentoring me. And I am so grateful. And I fully expect that I enter different phases in my life that other women in scripture, ancestry, and history will also be mentors for me, in a very real and concrete way. I have seen how Jeanne d'Arc has been a huge mentor and influence in the life of my eldest daughter.
So very many people have gone before us, we have millions, even billions of mentors that we can pull from in whatever struggle or adventure in which we require guidance. Of course, Jesus Christ is the ultimate mentor and has suffered all that we suffer and so we should first and foremost, make certain that we are spending time studying his life, works, and words in our never ending quest for a mentor. But there are others, I believe, who are waiting and even needing to bring aid to those who are still living. See if you cannot find such a mentor who has walked a path that might be similar to some path that you are currently walking. And once you find that person, learn all that you can about them and find strength in the journey and choices they made, both good and bad. I promise you that you will not be sorry. As we walk the earth, after so many have gone before us, we are not alone. I get so disheartened by how many people I hear claiming to be alone or misunderstood. We have no right to say such a thing. Millions have given their all so that you could be here, right here, right now, we owe them something. We have the responsibility to use the experience of others, living and beyond living, to bring us strength and comfort. I know that this has happened for me and I have not even been aware of it most of the time, but I am now looking back and seeing when someone helped to carry me or rejoiced with me. I can truly say that I have never been alone.
In the musical "Once Upon An Island" there is a song that says, better than I can, what I am trying to say. Here are those lyrics:
The courage of a dreamer
The innocence of youth
The failures and the foolishness
That lead us to the truth
The hopes that
Make us happy
The hopes that
Don't come true
And all the love
There ever was
I see this all
In you
You are part
Part of the
Human heart
You are part
Part of the
Human heart
Of all who took the journey
And managed to endure
The ones who knew such tenderness
The ones who felt so sure
The ones who
Came before you
The others yet
To come
And those who
You will teach
It to
And those you
Learned it from
You are part
Part of the
Human heart
You are part
Part of the
Human heart
This is the gift I give
Through your love you'll live
Forever...
You are part
Part of the
Human heart
Forever
You are part
Part of the human...
Heart.
Please. Don't be alone. Find your place in the scheme of things and be part of that one big heart and community. And I close with so many thanks to those who help me be part of the heart of the world. I seem to find more of you all the time and I am so grateful.
