Is “Freaky” the WORD?

One of the finest human beings I ever met just sent me an e-mail about meeting somebody who knows me. Now, the “freaky” thing is, this friend moved to a state very far away from Michigan and Ohio not much sooner than I moved to Northern Michigan. Maybe you haven’t realized it, but I am rather remotely far from anywhere you have ever been. However, despite that, my friend met his son’s girlfriend’s grandmother who knows me from HERE!!!. I should say this state is as far away from Michigan as Oklahoma, maybe more, but I don’t have a map in front of me. The point is, we are all connected when we love, respect, know and share our love of God with one another. I am feeling so overwhelmed with “irony” about this right now, I am speechless. Anyway, let’s go deeper….

I recently had the privilege and honor of playing music together with my family for a dear friend’s wedding. I can’t tell you what a joy it was to be playing guitar along with Sarah playing Harp, Lorhel playing Viola, and Jomay playing piano. This wasn’t easy music, this was classical stuff, and it carried beautifully on the wind. The gathering was mesmerized I am told at the reception, I know I was, it was perhaps my best musical moment of my life. One school teacher in her 60’s said it was the finest wedding music she has ever heard. I wasn’t at all surprised, I think it was, really. I thought, later, that 100 years ago, families gathered after the work day, the harvest, etc. and read the Bible together, or a book, or brought out the instruments and played together. Before internet and t.v., this was how we connected, this is how we spent our few leisurely moments together. We enjoyed one another, depended, needed, loved and respected one another. Today, a family that stays together like this, unfortunately, is a little “freaky”.

The bride that we played for is like a daughter to us, she has been on multiple vacations with us, house sat for us, and has been our children’s baby-sitter for a decade. Unfortunately, the bride’s mother could not be with us, as cancer took her life this year after a very long battle. Nevertheless, Karla was with us, her spirit was everywhere. It was apparent from the first moment as the pastor told a story about her and the Bride choosing a wedding dress together earlier in the year. Then, the unity candle wouldn’t lite---bad wick, the matches couldn’t get it. However, they were able to use the candle from the alter that they lit for Karla that burned brightly, to finally get it going. They were struck by the fact that Karla again saved the day, and realized that she was there with them, That is not the end of the story….

After the recessional, as folks slowly filtered out the front door, my son and I went into the hallway toward the back door to pick up the instrument cases so we could pack up. As we stood in the hallway, the very heavy steel and glass door back entrance opened up spontaneously. There was a rush of wind past us as the air from the Church found it’s way to the outside world. After about 30 seconds, the door then closed before our eyes, on it’s own. We both stood there speechless, until Jeffy said: “that was Karla.” Now, I am a scientist and would definitely find an earthly answer for this phenomenon should it exist. However, I know for a fact that door was closed solid because I was the last one in to use it. My first thought wasn’t of Karla, I was just looking at it from the practical point of view, trying to ascertain how this could be. Then I started thinking about what Jeffy said, and realized that it certainly was a spirit, an angel at least, and yes, maybe even Karla. My first thought was this is “freaky”, but then, it isn’t the first time I have experienced the supernatural. It was an even more beautiful moment that joined with the best music my family and I have ever played together. Hence, I knew God’s hand was upon it all, I knew he was there, certainly, Karla was there too.

Soon after this event Pastor Ben came up to Jeffy and I and started to talk, we told him about the “freaky” event. Although he is more used to the supernatural than I, it was clear from his face that with all the events of the evening, the unity candle event, feeling the Spirit present, that it was yet another piece of evidence that God is present in our lives always--that miracles are still happening and possible. There was a look of wonder on his face as he said that the word is not “freaky”, but possible, true, and “Godly” is the word.

Isn’t life great to know that this isn’t all of life? There is another world that awaits us. A better world filled with the best possible music, a world without disease such as cancer and pain, and suffering. By our standards, that’s a little “freaky”, but by heavenly standards, it’s just another day!