Blog 635 – 05.17.2017
Do You Know Me?

Yeah, I am that brother who went off to war, that cousin who always had a smile for you, the son, father, husband, friend who made a difference in your life. Actually some of you do know me or have come to know me through my blogs. I am you, we are, I think a part of the Whole. Sometimes we feel isolated and alone but then someone comes along to remind us that we are not. I would be that someone, always with an encouraging word.

I tried to encourage a dear friend of mine Mothers Day. It is a celebration, in her own words, that she despises because she misses her mother so very much !!! Many of us miss our mamas and don’t need a holiday to remember how much our time with them meant and means to us. Still it is a special sadness to turn a holiday into a continual reminder of loss and grief. And that is too often what people do. Holidays are no longer for them the celebration they were meant to be but anniversaries of pain.

If I could be that brother who went off to war and never came back or that mother, father, child, or friend who passed what would I say to those who continue to grieve my passing especially on holidays. I’d say this, “I love you, but you need to knock it off. I want you to be happy and to enjoy your life. I am fine, having a good time. Remember the good times. And please forget the times I wasn’t my best. And for God sake, mine, and your own celebrate life every chance you get.”

American Express used to use the line, “Do you know me?” to push their charge card with some celebrity’s name printed at the bottom and them saying that even where people are not impressed by their name that the card gets them treated like somebody. Well, I am somebody, you are somebody, and we don’t need a card or someone continually suffering over us to make us Somebody. Sometimes I think even Jesus wishes we thought more about his life and words of encouragement that his death. I mean, Jesus, even as horrible as his death was, the story has a happy ending but you wouldn’t know it by all the mourning going on.

Yeah, you know me. I am that brother, fellow traveler, that is always urging you to turn your “mourning” into “morning.” But it’s so hard, you say, but it’s not. You just have to change the channel in your mind. Turn off that “blues station” and tune in some, jazz, salsa, or rock ‘n roll. As they used to say on American Band Stand, “Something with a beat, something you can dance to.” Life was never meant to be a continual funeral dirge but a victory march, a dance. And oh how not only God and I but all those loved ones who have left the dance floor hope you dance. May I have the next dance? You know me and I would love to cut a rug with you.

Your friend and fellow traveler,
David White