I have just come home from early church. For those of you who don’t know me, I am not a morning person. I am not very nice or coherent early in the morning. I get better as the day goes on. My last couple of weeks at school I ended up coming home very late at night and I would rehearse my music as I drove home. I realized how much more alert and how much better and easier I sang at 11pm. I realized I really need a night time job. But I decided to make the sacrifice to get up early today because this is the Sunday we honor the kids graduating from high school. The kids I taught in my very first preschool class are today’s seniors! As I read the list of names yesterday I realized I needed to be there. After all, some of my friends got up super early to see me graduate so I could do it for these kids. Then I read the hymns we were singing and the anthem that the youth choir was singing and I knew I had to be there.
There was one other reason I had to be there. In my last post, I talked about cleaning out my closet and that I had a story to tell, but I needed to wait so as not to mess up a surprise. Well, now I can tell the story and the conclusion.
Before I started back to school I was a mentor for our confirmation classes at church for several years. Being a confirmation mentor was one of my most favorite things to do. It was one of the things I hated to give up when I returned to school, but there was really no way I could do both. When cleaning out my office closet this past week, I found a card I had given Jon when he transferred from the University of Alabama to Birmingham-Southern. Inside of the card were the lyrics to a song, “Find Your Wings” by Mark Harris. The words are very meaningful for parents and their children, especially at times of transition. As I read the words again, I was reminded of how I came to know the song and how emotional I get every time I hear it.
A friend of mine who had a child in my confirmation group in 2006 asked me back then to talk to the choir director about using this song during the slide presentation that is shown during confirmation. She told me it had great significance to her kids and thought it would be a good choice. I listened to it and agreed, but I assured her she would have more luck talking to our choir director than I would. My friend and I thought another friend of ours would be the perfect guy to sing the song so I told her to approach him as well. When all was said and done another song was chosen for the event and she and I were rather heartbroken. I listened to the song often back then and used it in this card for Jon as he set off on a new and exciting adventure. Eventually I quit listening to it and life moved on.
About two weeks ago Tim texted me asking for ideas for a song for the slide show for this Sunday honoring the graduates. He and our contemporary worship leader, Trey were brainstorming. I made several suggestions even though none of them really hit me. I told them I would keep thinking, but I really didn’t. When I found the lyrics to this song typed out on this sheet of paper and stuck in this old card I knew it was the right song. I ran to Tim’s office waving the sheet of paper and as I ran I realized this same child that was in the confirmation class that year was now a graduating senior. He and his mom could finally have their song! Except for one thing- it was probably too late. The bulletins were printed and I was sure whatever Trey had decided to sing was rehearsed and ready to go. I took the song to Tim anyway, mad at myself that I had not remembered it sooner. When I started to tell him about it he said, “By Mark Harris?” I said yes and he pulled out his phone and said, “You aren’t going to believe this, but that is what Trey is singing!” Trey had heard the song recently and realized it was not only appropriate, but he already knew it so he felt led to do it. I told Tim the whole story and he quickly sent Trey an email and told him the whole story. I did not want to share the story with all of you on the chance my friend would read this and it spoil the surprise.
Before church this morning, the guy we had wanted to sing this song so many years ago came up to Tim and asked if this was the same song from back then and Tim said yes. Scott (the guy) remembered the whole story and was excited to have it sung today- he also has a daughter graduating! Scott and Tim called over my friend who had started all of this so long ago to talk to her about this amazing story and you will never guess what! She didn’t remember any of it! The song, that she tried to get it sung, none of it! After all of this it meant more to us than to her! I guess people who spend their lives working with and loving music like Scott, Tim and I define our lives by the music that is playing throughout events. I guess others don’t. I can only hope the words meant something to the youth and their families, whether they had ever heard it before or not.
As I listened to the music, the prayers and the sermon, I pretended that some of it was for me and the transition I am going through. I ended up having to run the radio broadcast so I missed the anthem and a portion of the sermon due to “technical difficulty” which was probably for the best since I cried quite a bit anyway. That the kids I taught as babies are going off into the world, that I am back out in the world and totally unsure of what is next for me, that Jon is out in the world and grown with adult joys and problems. Life scampers by so quickly, each ending a new beginning but scary nonetheless. All I can do is trust in what I have done with Jon, the little bit I taught some of those kids and the things I have learned myself. Beyond that all I can hope for is that we all find our wings.
