Here is a short story about how a song connected with so many people in so many ways. I will try to add the song & video at the bottom of this post so you can listen and get a sense of what was shared in our forum.
At the mortuary, there is a resiliency program that nurtures one and all, so that a healthy mind, body & spirit can thrive in an environment that otherwise depletes and shreds your being. One such element in the resiliency program is called "Pizza & Conversation." This forum is designed to bring people together during the lunch hour to listen to a song lyric, a poem, or some kind of thought provoking submission. Questions are thrown out by the chaplain to elicit feedback and the result ends up being a very enlightening conversation between participants.
I submitted a song that I have been listening to for months, which ultimately spoke to me in many ways and on many levels. I thought, perhaps, it would speak to others too, so I passed it along for consideration. The chaplain listened to the piece and read its origin and background. He and I discussed the nature of the song and he felt it would not bring about much in the way of productive conversation. It was deemed as a song, which was easily interpreted and therefore not necessarily one that would generate a variety of themes to discuss. However, he would still use it, just that we would have to plan for a short lived session.
Last Wednesday, we held our weekly session and the song was played aloud for all to hear. The lyric sheet was provided for folks to follow along. When the song ended, some questions & thought provoking joggers were tossed out. Comments started to volley as the chaplain threw the curve-ball, which was out of the norm. In addition to the lyric sheet, he handed out the story behind the song. We all began to put the full picture together, but then had to cut the session short for a mission that was due in any moment. The remaining time was handed over to another chaplain, who could remain behind to facilitate.
Fast forward one week.
Today, we held "Pizza & Conversation" again. It ended up being a follow-up to last weeks session. We did have another song and lyric to play, but prior to doing so, the chaplain that typically leads, asked how the balance of the session from the week prior went. There weren't many comments, so the chaplain asked if he could share a story that surfaced out of last weeks forum. He began by telling all of us that one member of the group had to get up and leave last week, because he was overwhelmed with emotion brought on by the song. We were all fairly surprised by this, because no one really noticed. The story was then handed over to the individual, who had to depart the room. He was moved to share what he experienced from listening to this song and learning the background behind it.
Now is where I explain the song and background:
Since I am having trouble attaching the video, you can go to this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9yS-WbAuKo
The song was requested by a young man named Tyler, who was suffering from brain cancer. He wanted the song to speak to his mother after he left this earth, so she would know that everything was okay and he was in a better place.
To continue with my story, the young man who left the room had lost an uncle to cancer just months prior. So this song really helped him discover and find closure with the feelings he was dealing and coping with. SURPRISINGLY, as the conversation continued several other folks in the room stood up and shared very similar stories all dealing with the recent loss of a loved one to cancer. All the stories were moving and tenderhearted, but what they did more than anything else was connect us all together in the room. That, above all, was empowering and inspiring, because at the onset of this session, I'm sure that each person felt somewhat alone and isolated in their world of pain. But, once the doors began to open and people felt moved to share and relate, there was an overwhelming sense of support and care for one another.
What we see and do as members of the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operation is for the most part unknown to much of the outside world. We each deal with all of it on our own and in our own way. However, knowing that we are not alone in our coping and processing brings us together like family. We grow significantly together and take care of one another to ensure that everyone survives the unfortunate and grave tasks that we are called to perform in the name of Dignity, Honor & Respect for our fallen.
All in all, this underestimated song & lyric proved to be quite instrumental in sharing, coping, and healing some very difficult issues among our team. I'm glad I listened carefully to that still, small voice inside of me that nudged me to submit it. God works in very mysterious ways. To witness and to see the testimony, the tears, the connections and the fellowship that grew from that song, just reinforces how God moves in our midst with a purpose to achieve His will.
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