Laura Anne Ayres – The World of Before You

Youtube video: http://youtu.be/ZLhBZ2ONxpE

“He shines for us”

in memory of David R. Davidson

The curtain fell and lights went low

While ladies clapped, the men stood slow

The room would empty, they’d scatter,

to and fro

To start to leave, let the music go

They walked outside and felt a breeze

“It’s not yet over” shuttered in the trees

They felt a warmth in the sound of those

guarantees

That told them “no” because he would not go

Sometimes you feel inside your chest

You know he left but he’s not quite gone yet

Not for now

Or for then

Or for any day soon

For me and for you as we look to the moon

There he is and will be if we ever can’t see

He shines for us

The seasons changed and as the leaves fell

Soon it was Christmas, ringing of bells

Our hearts felt lonely without him

though all was well

Because the music showed he would not let go

People moved on and clocks kept their time

It wasn’t the same but soon we would find

He’d whisper softly, just listen, he’d speak

His mind

There’s no need for us to let him go

Sometimes you feel inside your chest

You know he left but he’s not quite gone yet

Not for now

Or for then

Or for any day soon

For me and for you as we look to the moon

There he is and will be if we ever can’t see

He shines for us

Words under copyright protection: Laura Anne Ayres, 2013

Music under copyright protection: Jackson Henry, 2014

Written at 2AM on June 29^th at The Hospice of Grand St. Bernard

High on the mountain, just next to the official border between Switzerland and Italy, which is in a lake, sits the Hospice of Grand St. Bernard.

This weekend celebrated a great many things: the Treasury, the Collège Chapittet, the renovations underway to save the Hospice from dilapidation and decay. Read it clearly: complete closure. After 1000 years of service. Because that will happen someday soon if the Hospice is not saved. (PLEASE donate: Hospice du GSB- Union de Banque Suisse-1920 Martigy- IBAN CH50 0026 4264 6946 8001 X – BIC UBSWCHZH80A)

Moving on, I think it is safe to say, many of those who gathered this weekend did not know each other. Many people who crossed the threshold of the Hospice of Grand St. Bernard this weekend were strangers to each other. It’s just normal. What is not normal is the outcome.

They left as part of a family: the ever-growing, all-loving Hospice family.

Even for those of us, like me, who are veterans – it’s always a new family, you see? New faces, new stories, new names. Every day, the Hospice family is re-energized by “newness” and it is through this heart that the Hospice will always give warmth and light, even when it is a time of darkness or cold.

Pilgrims (like Brian) embrace physical endurance testers (like Mr. X from Vaud). Canons, deacons, and oblates break bread (or cheese) with Switzerland’s in-the- valley-working folks. Others are seeking peace and encounter someone in direct service (like Jackson). At the Hospice, we all fight for the same thing: peace. Peace not only for ourselves in this moment. Peace for all who are in need.

Because we are family. We are all the Hospice of Grand St. Bernard family and now we have new additions in Jackson and Alex, who contributed so much to make this weekend’s concerts happen. Hospice angels.

God bless José, Frédéric, Anne-Marie, Raphaël, Pascal, Jean-Michel, L, Anne-Laure, Christophe and the Campaign committee, Raphaëlle, Annick and Stefan, and many others. We all use our gifts to support the Hospice. That’s what we do.

I wish everyone could be lucky enough to join this family. It is a family that will never let you fall.

http://www.gsbernard.net

On a personal note:

It’s hard to point to a favorite moment, but I think the moment José laid eyes on me when I arrived was one of the best moments in my life. No one has ever been so happy to see me and let me know it. HUGE smile, eyes dancing, big bear hug. José – ich bin deine Schutzengeli und immer so.

Jackson Henry at the Hospice is too much goodness to handle. Seeing his feet walk out of the Customs door after over a decade of geographical distance is something I cannot explain. Jackson is one of my top five favorite people on the planet – he is my soul’s twin brother.