A Prayer for the Dear Ones

Frank Schuman died yesterday. He was on his boat and in the water which is where is always preferred to be anyway. I performed his and Jamie's wedding on the beach. Like everyone else on the island, we'd bump into one another in Doc's Bar, at Marlin Monroe's on in the water, which is where we were the last time that I saw Frank. There really are no words when it comes to death, only love. Out of the water we came and, if we're lucky, it's back into the water we go ... to Atlantis or Heaven or deeper into the hearts of those who held us dear as we lived. I have a habit of calling people I think to be special as my dear friend. Perhaps I romanticize things but then again ... I am a romantic .. so it is highly likely I do. A long time ago I wrote a book called Playing Hide and Seek: A non-Church-goers Guide in which I tried to explain that God is best experienced as the in-between that occurs as two or more people come together. "When two or more are gathered in my name, I am with them." Obviously, sometimes people come together for pretty shitty reasons and I'm pretty certain that God is nowhere around. There's nothing holy about drug deals or political conventions. Today a lot of people are sending love to Frank and his family ... holding them dear in death. There is a holiness in what they're doing and I'm pretty sure that, as bad as dying is, God is there. Somewhere in the in-between expressions of love from one to another is where God is found. After all ... God is love. I'm not looking forward to my own death. I've got too much to do. Sarah and I are doing as much in-between as we can possibly squeeze into a day. The kids are all doing fascinating things and I want to be here to see how their stuff turns out. The girls are finally becoming comfortable living at the beach, the smell of the Marsh and ... me! We're surrounded by an incredible and wonderful group of friends and we all support each other as best we can. Plus I'm itching to launch the next great thing and we're almost there! So I choose to hold people dear now rather than later. Besides, I'm not certain how much good I'll be to anyone later. It's not to say that some are not more special than others. That is obviously true. But everyone we have in our lives are gifts and I think they're from God. Sure ... some are better than others just like Christmas or birthday presents. A few go to the bottom of your heart and stay forever. Others dart through leaving memories that are ... dear. So I send prayers to Jamie and Frank, Jr. I toss them up for The Carnival of Friends. I give thanks for the wider community of believers and non-believers that I'm lucky enough to have in my life. Karma, love and Godspeed are for the kids as they choose their own lives. Petitions of safekeeping, inspiration and love are made for the girls. Deep gratitude and appreciation is reserved for Sarah who brings me joy. And I continue to stand in awe of this world. The majesty of the sea, Fran's thousand shades of green, salt air sticking to my skin, deep blue skies and wonders from the stars. Thank you. Amen.