Something from Sis.


At my work, a different hospital chaplain posts every week. This was the posting when Grandma Ruby passed or maybe the week after. I wanted to share it with the family and to honor & thank those who sang. I am proud of all.


The Singers of Life
Rev. Joel Sturtevant, D.Min.
The Dr. William J. Schultz Community Service Chaplain
Norton Healthcare
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me. Psalm 23:4
Abraham Heschel has said there are three ascending levels of mourning: The first is crying, the second is silence, and the third is song. Perhaps the following incident shows this in the natural world. Anthropologist Loren Eiseley walked into a quiet woodland, sat in the lush grass and dozed off. He continues the story this way…

"When I awoke, dimly aware of some commotion and outcry in the clearing, the light was slanting down through the pines in such a way that the glade was lit like some vast cathedral. I could see the dust motes of wood pollen in the long shaft of light, and there on the extended branch sat an enormous raven with a red and squirming nestling in his beak. The sound that awoke me was the outraged cries of the nestling’s parents, who flew helplessly in circles about the clearing. The sleek black monster was indifferent to them. He gulped, whetted his beak on the dead branch a moment and sat still. Up to that point the little tragedy had followed the usual pattern. But suddenly, out of all that area of woodland, a soft sound of complaint began to rise. Into the glade fluttered small birds of half a dozen varieties drawn by the anguished outcries of the tiny parents.

"None dared to attack the raven. But they cried there in some instinctive common misery. The bereaved and the un-bereaved. The glade filled with their soft rustling and their cries. They fluttered as though to point their wings at the murderer. There was a dim intangible ethic he had violated, that they knew. He was a bird of death. And he, murderer, the black bird at the heart of life, sat on there, glistening in the common light, formidable, unmoving, unperturbed, untouchable.

"Then the sighing died. It was then I saw the judgment.
"It was the judgment of life against death. I will never see it again so forcefully presented. I will never hear it again in notes so tragically prolonged. For in the midst of protest, they forgot the violence. There, in that clearing, the crystal note of a song sparrow lifted hesitantly in the hush. And finally, after painful fluttering, another took the song, and then another, the song passing from one bird to another, doubtfully at first, as though some evil thing were being slowly forgotten. Till suddenly they took heart and sang from many throats joyously together as birds are known to sing. They sang because life is sweet and sunlight beautiful. They sang under the brooding shadow of the raven. In simple they had forgotten the raven, for they were the singers of life, and not of death." –Loren Eiseley, anthropologist

Lord, teach us how to live and work under the shadow of the raven and grant us the resolve to be the singers of life. Amen.

Pictures from Julie

A New Family Member

Just wanted to share our newest little bundle of joy.

INTRODUCING: MIA CLAIRE BARNES

Born: 9/23/08

Weight: 6 lb. 8 oz.

Length: 19 inches

She has the same black hair as Sara-Kate. Maybe not quite as long as Sara-Kate's was. Mommy is doing great this time. Baby is in nic-u for a bit while they get some of the fluid off her lungs.

Have a great day. Catherine

Pictures from Keycia

Hi all.
Here are some current pictures. We took the girls to Dinosaur World
this weekend. So those dated 9-20 are from Saturday. It amazes me how
big they're getting already. Emma-Kate will be 2 this Friday, and
Caroline was 5 months yesterday. She already weighs a little over 17
pounds!!! I hope you all have a great week!!!

Tons of love,
Keycia

Grandmother's Chair
by author unknown

Grandmother sits in her easy chair
Softly humming some old-time air;
And as she sings, her needles keep pace
With the smiles that flit o'er her wrinkled face;
While the fire-light flickers, and fades away,
And comes again like the breaking day.
From morning till evening she knits and sings,
While ever the pendulum tireless swings
The moments around, with its tick and stroke,
Nor hastes for the festal, nor lags for the yoke.
And grandmother never repines at her fate
Of being the last at the "Crystal Gate."
Husband, and daughters, and sons all there,
Wearing the "crown and the garments fair"
Singing the songs that will never tire,
And swelling the chorus of heaven's choir;
But patiently, hopefully, bides the time
That shall bring her at last to a fairer clime.
Grandmother's chair will be vacant soon,
For the rays of life slant far past noon;
But yonder in heaven she'll sing again,
Joining the evermore glad refrain,
Wearing the "crown" and the "garments fair,"
While we mournfully stand by her vacant chair.


From Marie

Many of you know that Ruby and some of her sisters were school teachers. Her father was also a school teacher. I believe these examinations are for his teaching certificate. Could you pass these?