26 Angels

This limited edition print, 26 Angels, by Birmingham artist Liz Landgren, commemorates the 26 victims of the Sandy Hook massacre.  The original was sent to the Sandy Hook community.  The artist gave Jan one of the prints, and we hung it on the anniversary of the tragedy.

Landgen hoped to promote healing by asking us to think about the paradise the 26 victims are enjoying now and forever, rather than the tragedy that ended their earthly lives.  People all over the world sent in their most comforting verses from the Bible.  Look closely and you will see them.

Something to Think About

I'm reading a great book titled "The True Measure of a Man".  It contains a quote that I had never seen before, words that Napoleon wrote at the end of his life:

"I die before my time and my body shall be given back to the earth and devoured by worms.  What an abysmal gulf between my deep miseries and the eternal Kingdom of Christ.  I marvel that whereas the ambitious dreams of myself and of Alexander and of Caesar should have vanished into thin air, a Judean peasant - Jesus - should be able to stretch his hands across the centuries and control the destinies of men and nations."

Here are three famous men - Alexander the Great, Caesar, and Napoleon - seeking to control the world by power. When we see their lives contrasted with one man, Jesus, the humble life of a carpenter, we marvel at how truly extraordinary He was and is, that the world has been so powerfully changed through His simple life of humility.

Senior Living

Seniors hold a special place in my heart. They always have. When I was a young boy, I enjoyed sitting in my grandfather's store, listening as the old men sat by the woodstove in rocking chairs, talking about old times. Today, whenever I am offered the opportunity to perform for seniors, I jump at it. I think they deserve our gratitude and respect. If there is any way that I can use my musical gifts to make them forget about their pain, or bring back pleasant memories, or just make them feel engaged for a few minutes, I am happy to do it.

Last week I performed a short concert at Kirkwood By the River, a beautiful place in Birmingham for senior living. A friend of mine lives there, a very accomplished and cultured man whom I have known since I was 15 years old. He invited me to have lunch with him before the program, and it was a great pleasure to visit with him.

I played for a lively group of seniors who live in the independent living section of Kirkwood.
Believe me, whenever I play for older people, I am the one who is blessed. They bless me, by showing me that, despite the ravages of time, illness, pain, limitation and loss, all that they are is STILL THERE. They show me that the human spirit, the true reflection of God's nature, cannot be extinguished.