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The Liturgy of the Commonplace

"Wait! One more look. Good-bye , Good-bye world. Good-bye, Grover's Corners....Mama and Papa. Good-bye to clocks ticking....and Mama's sunflowers. And food and coffee. And new ironed dresses and hot baths....and sleeping and waking up. Oh, earth,you are too wonderful for anybody to realize you. Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it--every,every minute?" Emily, from Our Town, by Thornton Wilder

As I get older, I find myself treasuring the ordinary moments of my life. Over time our days develop their own patterns. I find myself looking forward to end of the day time with my husband, just the two of us. We settle in to bed after the usual routine. After almost fifteen years of marriage he still gets up to "fix the sheets" if they have come untucked and I still doggedly hold on to mine so they don't get pulled away.

Just a little thing. A silly little thing. We fuss at eachother, territorial about the covers on the bed. But the argument has no teeth to it. It's a part of the ritual as we nestle in to sleep, like a dog turns round and round before settling in. It is part of the liturgy of the commonplace, "new ironed dresses and hot baths...and sleeping and waking up."

Today I am contemplating the loss of American musician Pete Seeger, who lived to a great age and left us all with enough musical treasures to last many lifetimes. And I am mourning the loss of the young people whose lives were cut short at the Mall and will not get to share their gifts or develop their own liturgy of the commonplace.

I am so blessed by having a loving family, wonderful friends, and an amazing community. I feel myself hungrily drinking in the nourishment of it, the deliciousness of their wisdom, and caring, and humor. At times like this we desperately need that sustenance.

I discovered this song as I combed through iTunes this morning, looking for music to share with my students. This one, though, is for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPvWD8V_9Xg

Lyrics to Wonderful Friends :

(Lorre Wyatt and Pete Seeger)

When I think of the ways that I've grown

I know I couldn't a' made it alone

I owe a lot to the sharing, caring, daring

Wonderful friends that I've known.

I owe a lot to the sharing, caring, daring

Wonderful friends that I've known

Here we are all in one place, all gathered together,

We've helped each other down this road whatever the weather.

We have no need for pots of gold, for friends are a treasure.

So hold hands, and sing it again

Many years ago when I was feeling discouraged

I found that singing with my friends would fill me with courage

It's a rough and rocky road we're on, so when we get worried

With old friends, we'll sing it again

It looks like we might sing all night, but looks are deceiving

That old clock upon the wall says, soon I've got to be leaving

And though we go our separate ways, there's no need for grieving

Just hold hands, and sing it again

When I think of the ways that I've grown

I know I couldn't a' made it alone

I owe a lot to the sharing, caring, daring

Wonderful friends that I've known.

I owe a lot to the sharing, caring, daring

Wonderful friends that I've known

 

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