The Power of Truth

Many of us attended the funeral service of Madison Holler's mom today.

It was a powerful service for the mother of our beloved Madison.  I was prepared for a couple of the truths that I knew that I would face:

• Feeling the pain that Madison is going through - and reminded of similar pains that others have had in recent days.
• The strong parenting urge I felt - that I must be there for my children.
• The reminder that life is brief - that we all are subject to a certain fate.

I wasn't prepared to see and hear the UAB Choir - that took me by surprise.

I have seen members of the choir since our last moments together, but today was the first time that I saw you as a group and I wasn't ready for it.  I didn't realize that I would get so caught up in the strong emotions that I felt throughout the service - it was all there - empathy and love for Madi, a feeling of mortality, fatherhood.

And then I experienced the overwhelming specialness of the people I was fortunate to conduct and teach and mentor and love for a certain number of years.  There is a special feeling that comes from leading such a unique group of people - when you are gathered together there is a very present and invisible force that I felt very strongly.

As time has passed since our last time together, I have received numerous confirmations that I made the right decision to leave UAB . . .  it was the right time and I am in the place I need to be.

But as you sang today, I experienced one very clear and consuming truth:  that it was a privilege to have been a part of your lives - especially as your leader - for a brief time.

Tell me where is the road I can call my own,

That I left, that i lost, so long ago.

All these years I have wondered, oh when will I know,

There's a way, there's a road that will lead me home.

After wind, After rain, when the dark is done,

As i wake from a dream, in the gold of day,

Through the air there's a calling from far away,

There's a voice I can hear that will lead me home.

"Rise up, follow me, come away," is the call,

With the love in your heart as the only song;

There is no such beauty as where you belong,

Rise up, follow me, I will lead you home.

Thank you for the time that we spent together - both today and for the last few years.

I miss you, and I love you very much.

plc