Morning Has Broken

 [stef]

In tears.
I went on my regular long walk this morning, during which I have an hour or so of good, hard thinking, daydreaming, reflecting, occasional stewing, and prayer. Lately on my walks I have spent a good portion thinking about my dad (more about him later). The still heartbreaking parts about his life and some of the circumstances around his death, the good parts (including things I have started to introduce Hudson to - such as asking for "huggers" and "kissers", singing him, strange, silly songs, etc.), the hopeful parts, and the unsettling parts that still leave me with that big knot in the pit of my stomach.  Anyways, today was one of those days, and I came back to my apartment feeling unsure and heavy hearted, when suddenly the church bells down the road started to play.

 And they were playing Morning Has Broken.

This is not typically a church song (although I can see how it could be - it's basically about the goodness of life), and I have never ever heard it being played by the bells before. It is by Cat Stevens, an artist that my dad listened to, and used his incredible abilities as a pianist to play his own versions of his songs. It is a song that the four of us kids chose to play at his funeral, and besides the Peanuts Christmas song that he used to play on the piano for us over and over on request, it is one of the songs that reminds me of him the most. (Here it is)

I don't always know what to think about the notion that those who have passed on have the ability to look down on us that are left here - but hearing those bells this morning was either a crazy coincidence, or there is something to that. Either way, it gave me some peace. Peace is good.