Purple Haze
Yesterday I attended the Celebration service for a family friend.
When I walked into the sanctuary of Mariners Church I immediately felt at peace. The color purple flooded over the instruments filling the stage from the surrounding lights as the singers and musicians dressed in black began to quietly take their places. The most exquisite flower arrangements in lavender, purple and white were surrounding her at the foot of the stage. Two very large screens displayed her image with the words – Janice Freeman Neuble 1985 – 2019.
I was taken with how lovely it all was. I stared at her photo. Shaved head, flawless makeup, standing tall and strong. A beautiful black woman. She was looking over her left shoulder into the distance. I couldn’t help but wonder what she was thinking at that moment when the photographer snapped the shot. Did she have any idea that this would be the shot to represent her at this moment? Perhaps she was checking to see if death was gaining on her since she had been outrunning him ever since she was a small child when the doctor told her mother not to expect her to live very long. She battled with various illnesses all her life, pushing through to live her dreams and share the voice God gave her with the world, giving Him the glory the whole way. I was inspired thinking of her bravery and accomplishments. A feeling of celebration was stirring up within me. I knew her spirit was still alive and strong, somehow bigger. I looked over my left shoulder and saw the family.
They were broken, standing in line to take one last look at her beautiful face. They were crying, holding each other up from collapsing. My heart was struck with compassion for them and my eyes immediately filled with tears. I wept for them. Those left behind.
It reminded me of a story from the bible that surrounded the verse. “Jesus wept”. Lazarus laid sick and dying. His friends went to find Jesus. He had healed so many people. People he did not know. They were sure he would come running when he heard about his beloved friend’s condition. Jesus took his time. Made a couple stops along the way. Being about his father’s business. When he finally arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days. As he approached, a few met him to tell him that Lazarus was dead. Jesus replied that he is only sleeping. Jesus knew that the spirit doesn’t die, and the flesh is subject to his power and authority. He had already been to the place where we go when we die. He was at peace. Then he saw the family.
They were broken. Weeping and holding each other up. Lazarus’ sister told him that her brother would not have died if he had gotten there on time. He comforted them. That moment was the first time Jesus knew the pain of being human and being left behind. Then he immediately went to Lazarus’ tomb and raised him from the dead. Jesus knew that after he left this world that he would have to send a comforter. He did. Holy Spirit.
Oh yeah, Miley Cyrus came to the celebration. She had been Janice’s coach on The Voice. She was wearing a simple black suit, loose pony tail and no makeup, no bling. Not the Miley that I was used to seeing on T.V. but she was the Miley that Janice had described so many times; generous and genuine. Between sobs she explained that she asked her Father to come and sing because she didn’t think she could get through the song without crying. The band played behind Billy Ray Cyrus as he sat in a chair playing his guitar singing, Amazing Grace. Miley harmonized with her Daddy at the moments that she could manage without crying. It was beautiful.
The first thing Miley said when she walked on stage, “Let me get one thing straight. I was never Janice’s coach! She was my coach. Everything I know about love, Janice taught me.”
Well done, Janice.
Fawn Thinking Out Loud 