This morning I attended the funeral of a dear friend of mine who died of breast cancer this week. The sanctuary was filled to capacity, overflowing in fact, and the service was exquisitely honest and heartfelt, integrating the beautiful Jewish prayers of mourning with stories of her life and music. The Threshold Choir was there too; she had been singing with them for a few years, singing to people who are coping with illness or dying. Today it was her turn to receive the gift.
A few of her friends also sang a song from the show "Wicked" that she had loved, and before they'd even finished the first verse, you could hear the chorus of weeping around the room. The door to grief had opened and we were all walking through together, singing as we walked. LIke the Mourner's Kaddish, the lyrics of the song are themselves a prayer of gratitude and transformation. "For Good" is not only relevant for those who are mourning; it is also a simple yet gorgeous tribute to anyone who's touched our lives in extraordinary ways.
All of my ghosts and angels were with me today, and my heart was breaking open again.
I'm limited
Just look at me – I'm limited
And just look at you
You can do all I couldn't do, Glinda
So now it's up to you
For both of us – now it's up to you…
I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you…
Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good
It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend…
Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
Because I knew you
I have been changed for good
And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done you blame me for
But then, I guess we know
There's blame to share
And none of it seems to matter anymore
Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a bird in the wood
Who can say if I've been
Changed for the better?
I do believe I have been
Changed for the better
And because I knew you…
Because I knew you…
Because I knew you…
I have been changed for good…