Last night Kathy and I spent some time at the Relay for Life in Racine. I’ve been to the event in Kenosha a number of times, but never ever been to Racine’s- although I’ve certainly pledged money in the past to Dave Krueger, a tenor in my church choir and my summertime tennis partner. . . . and, I might add, a cancer survivor. (I had another obligation earlier in the evening, or we might have gotten there in time to see him on the survivor’s walk around the track. That would have been neat.)
This year, in addition to DaveK, there were a number of teachers from Walden who were walking in memory of a cherished colleague, Sharon Johnson, who died of cancer a few months ago. What a vibrant person she was – and a marvelous teacher – and where she lived and worked, she was a Luminary in every sense of the word – one who SHINES – who brightens the world.
We made a point of coming to support Kate Potter-Barrow – and “we” included our friends Bob and Val Conner – and we were also anxious to hear Kathy’s dad sing with a barbershop quartet right at 9:00. Their lovely rendition of “What a Wonderful World” echoed throughout the grounds, suddenly hushed except for a distant train which rolled through just as the song was ending. Otherwise, it was an evening of bumping – as in bumping into one friend after another, all night long. And at one point, we actually took to the track with Kate for one lap with the others who were walking in memory of someone claimed by cancer or in honor of someone who has survived it.
My introduction to Relay for Life was in Kenosha many years ago, when Kathy Thoreson asked me to come down and sing something with her church choir. She lost her mother to cancer some years ago and she and Playford had been active in the Relay ever since. Playford was afforded the responsibility and honor of reading aloud the names of every cancer victim in whose memory a luminary had been purchased and placed on the track. He would do that so beautifully – with a sense of reverence, taking a moment for reflective silence after each one. That was a long list back then- and I’m not sure that’s even done anymore because there are so many more names now. And sad to say, Playford’s beautiful speaking voice has now been silenced by ALS, yet another poignant reminder of how fragile this life really is.
It makes me think of the wonderful song “This Day” sung by Points of Grace. At that very first Relay for Life that I attended so long ago (I remember that I was dressed in my tux because I rushed down there after a night of Lakeside Pops with the RSO) Kathy Thoreson’s choir sang that song – and it was so perfect for the occasion. It reminds us that life’s fragility – that our vulnerability – should enhance rather than detract from our love of life. Here are those words from the wonderful song of Lowell Alexander.
This Day is fragile. . . Soon it will end. . .
and once it has vanished it will not come again.
So let us love, with a love pure and strong
Before this day is done.
This Day is fleeting. . . When it slips away
not all our money can buy back this day.
So let us pray that we might be a friend
before this day is spent.
This Day we’re given is Golden- Let us show love. . .
This Day is ours for one moment- Let us sow love. . .
This Day is frail . . . It will pass by. . .
So before it’s too late to recapture the time. . .
Let us share Love. . . Let us share God. . .
Before this day is gone.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the Carthage Choir and my days directing them . . . for several different reasons that i won’t go into now. . . and typing those lyrics reminds me of my first stint as director of the choir back in 1994. I directed them in the spring semester while Dr Windh went on sabbatical, and for commencement that year, I had them sing “This Day” in a little arrangement I whipped up. I can still see the tears falling down the faces of some of those singers as they sang this song on their graduation day. And I’m sure for the vast majority of them, they had really no idea yet just how fragile life can be- but moments like graduations (when a new and unwritten chapter of life stretches before them) or weddings (when a new unknown begins) or funerals (when a life flickers out) are all reminders that we cannot possibly know all that is ahead of us. All we can know and need to know is that God loves us and holds us every single step along the way.