Gratitude and Gravity

Spring has arrived and is well underway in all its glorious fanfare of colors.  Mother Nature is flaunting her beauty across the landscape with bold bright colors while greens of every shade are bursting from tree limbs rising high above the land.  As I walk my neighborhood, I marvel at the bounty of nature that is proudly showing off itself for our enjoyment and pleasure.  The warm fresh breezes draw us out of our homes and into the streets, parks, and local gardens to enjoy the newness of the life of spring.  We, who live in Texas experienced a tough week of extreme winter weather this past February and spring is a welcomed change for us to see new life emerging once again.  Many trees and shrubs appear lifeless from the impact of the winter storm, yet upon closer examination, there are ever so subtle signs of life that are appearing.  

Yet, we as a spiritual community have also experienced a harshness in the winter of life with the passing of a trio of our dear and treasured friends.  The season of winter, a time of darkness lingered and is demonstrated with the releasing of the physical form of Tommy DeSalvo, Doug Kavanagh, and now Barbara Pitts-Lester.  There now remains spaces in my heart and in our collective spiritual community that shall remain vacant, for no one can replace the gifts that each of these beloveds brought to us individually and collectively.   

A colossal space shall remain open to hold the memories of Tommy’s brilliant gift of music which he shared so freely and graciously during his lifetime with Unity on Greenville.  We have expounded on the grace and life of Tommy and The Tommy DeSalvo Music Sanctuary stands as a monument to his dedication and legacy of magnificent music.  In fact, “The Neverending Medley” plays softly in the background as I write these words.  A great space shall always remain ready to hear, even if only in my mind, the beautiful voice of Barbara Pitts-Lester.  One of my first encounters with Barbara was hearing her sing. “Big Sister Barbara” as her email moniker says, was exactly that – a model big sister for many.  From the day of my first ever talk at Unity, Barbara shared with kindness and gentleness thoughtful advice to guide my way.  Some tips I caught quickly and some I continue to work to master. Barbara was and shall always be a guiding light, an example of kindness, compassion, faith, grace, and elegance that any one of us might follow.  And Doug, well there is always an open space in my heart to receive the love and kindness Doug shared without restraint.  Doug’s generosity of spirit, without needing prompts or accolades, is a demonstration of “letting all you do be done with love.” (I Corinthians16:14).  I can easily imagine this dynamic trio from beyond doing what they each do best.  I hold a vivid image of Tommy playing while Barbara lends her melodious voice of song, and Doug, well, Doug of course is dancing in the aisle!  The mere thought of them brings a smile to my face. 

Each of these beloveds touched my heart deeply as I know they touched yours. With the passing of each person, my heart fell into a feeling of deep grief.  Grief in which I gently indulged myself, a grief that I sat with so that in time, the grief would move on its own accord.  I have learned in my lifetime that unattended grief will raise in various ways in order to garner the needed attention.  So why not tend to it right off.  Tending to the grief I felt in time eased the movement away from grief to gratitude.  Sitting with the feelings of grief, I was reminded to relinquish attachment to all that I hold dear and to make the space for what is to be.  Sitting in the grief, I gently recall the multitude of gifts and blessings that each person brought to my life and to Unity.  As I recount the many joyful, love-filled, encounters that often erupted with laughter, I can only feel gratitude. 

Unity on Greenville is forever changed for the better because these beautiful beings crossed our threshold.   Now they have crossed the threshold to the realms beyond this human existence.  The gravity of their passing is immense.  As each person passes from our midst, we are reminded of our own mortality.  While we may believe that our souls are eternal and the thread of life joins us as one through all time, we will miss the physical presence. We take comfort in our faith, in memories made, and in one another.  

There have been many who have entered our midst, lived as they were born to live, then passed on to the next journey for their soul.  There are countless souls who have graced Unity on Greenville in their own unique and special way.  They are the shoulders upon whom we now stand.  We know that each person who enters our midst is there for a purpose.  I believe that purpose is to share our love, to be excellent givers of love and to be equally excellent receivers of love.  In fact, the very mission statement of Unity on Greenville begins “With love as our foundation…”

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Yes, spring has arrived in grand style ushering in the new life of the season.  And still, we pause to honor and pay homage to those who have made their journey onward just beyond the veil.  I am moved to the core of my being by the experience of both the gravity of their passing and for the gratitude for their presence in my life and in the fabric of Unity on Greenville.    
 Let me say too, that I am grateful for your presence.  If you are reading these words, I am grateful for you.  You, in some way, have touched my life and for that I know I am made a better person.  May we always remember that with each encounter we are placing our unique fingerprints upon the lives of others.  Touch gently, love greatly.

Much love, many blessings

Rev. Karen