A Thousand Years
How long can love last?
Can it last beyond our years here on earth?
I like to think it can, that our children, grandchildren, friends and others carry the love we give them in their hearts and heap it on their children and friends.
Yesterday, I was preparing a homily for Josephine Davis Schnautz, a neighbor who passed away last Friday at the age of 93. I had spent time with her children and discovered many things about this woman who I knew only as a quiet, kind old woman who spent most of her time at home assisted by an aide who came each day.
They showed me her many paintings and her mechanical drawings, from when she was a young woman, the first woman hired to work as a draftsperson for the New York Central Railroad during World War II.
But the true beauty of this woman was in how she treated people with respect and loving hospitality, quietly and humbly doing what came naturally for her, being Jody, the friend, the confidant, the joyful presence.
I decided to look for a song that would express the feeling of everlasting love that the family expressed to me and I came upon this song by Christina Perri, A Thousand Years.
Heart beats fast Colors and promises How to be braveHow can I love when I'm afraid To fallBut watching you stand aloneAll of my doubt Suddenly goes away somehow
One step closer
(Chorus)I have died every daywaiting for youDarlin' don't be afraidI have loved you for aThousand yearsI'll love you for aThousand more
Time stands still beauty in all she is I will be braveI will not let anything Take awayWhat's standing in front of meEvery breath, Every hour has come to this
One step closer
(Chorus)
And all along I believed I would find youTime has brought Your heart to meI have loved you for a Thousand yearsI'll love you for a Thousand more
One step closerOne step closer
(Chorus)
And all along I believed I would find youTime has brought Your heart to meI have loved you for a Thousand yearsI'll love you for a Thousand more
As we gather together today to comfort each other in our sorrow, I will be thinking of Jody and the love she spilled out on everyone she met. May that love last a thousand years and more.
More to come...