reflections on living in an urban place and what is found within (everything)

One of my dearest of friends,

who lives in PEI now with her husband,

sent me the above song during the time that my Husband and I

were looking for a place to buy, as we had 2 months as per our landlord

who was selling the condo of his that we rented.

***

It's funny, how much this song,

and the grittiness I feel in it, and the heroism

and the knowledge of fire, of that which is tragic, 

it all seems to be here where I live. 

Three (was it only 3!?) Lents ago, the first day of Lent,

Clean Monday, we were still laying in bed when we heard it...

three shots....

a woman died; the man later died also.

Today, we heard of a hit and run, the woman in hospital.

How can one hit a person grievously and run away?

Sadness, tragedy. 

But yet, at the same moment, there are deep friendships here;

Husband and Wife of Many Years, waiting to hear about cancer;

another dear couple of ours joyously welcomed an adopted daughter in this City;

we have seen beautiful baptisms of babies; 

I was at a panakhyda with a small small casket of a baby lost before full term; 

it's all here and somehow this song seems to cover it all; 

I worry about many who live here; 

many are poor; many are being priced out I think; 

there is much struggle.

***

"if the darkness returns, my brothers will die" 

as this song goes.

***

The only way I know to fight darkness returning is by the Church.

By bringing our weary selves to Christ, the Liturgy, to Confession, again and again and again. 

The second thing is just to maintain our homes,

to have places of healing, of rest, of peace, of beauty

for those weary from the battle can come home to.

I remember hearing this song during Holy Week last year,

after my Aunt Karen died...

Here it is again, in another place:

Here's a link about the priest-Monk who sings in it.

We are in a battle but there is everything here,

the mercy to fight, the mercy of peace, the joy of a wedding, the joy 

of rebirth, the tragedy of this world, and above all

CHRIST the HOPE of this world.

Prayers again for many dear friends who are in such

trials and sufferings. 

May God have mercy on us.