E.L.E. Moment

We recently saw The Avett Brothers in concert and as you all know, I am (kind of) obsessed with them (just a little bit). During the show there was a definite E.LE. moment that I had to share. As they finished “Salvation Song” the audience sang the last verse a capella ….

“We came for salvation

…and all I could think was “EVERYBODY LOVES EVERYBODY.” 

It was great.  

Today it all cosmically came together even more. 

This morning I read a beautifully written but very sad post about Angela’s passing and as I was tearfully emailing her sister-in-law, Angie, the song “Stand by Me” came on my Avett Brothers Pandora station. Listening to the words in that moment didn’t help the tears, but it did help me to realize that Angela is still with us everyday, in all we do, and she is looking out for us. 

(This was the first time I let myself cry and mourn for Angela since going to her viewing last October. I know we push away those feelings because we don’t want to let ourselves feel the pain; we’d rather be numb. But it is important to remember her, and to remember that, yes, it was a complete and total tragedy that we lost her.)

As I finished up my email, just as I was writing that I would do my best to make sure Angela’s legacy lived on, guess what song came on? 

Yes, “Salvation Song.”

Let me tell you a little more about Angela so you can see how all of these pieces fit together. Angela wrote a paper for me about where she saw herself in ten years. She envisioned herself working for the New Community Project headquarters in Elgin, Il. Their mission is to “Follow Christ toward a new community of justice, peace and respect for God’s earth.”

I shared the lyrics with Angie, and how I felt very moved to make sure I help do for Angela what she can now only do in spirit. 

She quickly wrote back and said that this is all very fitting because today is actually Angela’s birthday.

I had no idea. 

It is sad that the world lost someone that held so much promise,

but it is now even more obvious that she is still with us  

everyday, 

in all we do, 

and she is looking out for us. 

And on her birthday we are going to take a second 

to feel, 

and remember, 

and promise. 

Feel her loss, 

remember her mission, 

and promise to “leave behind the world a better way.”

Just like she would want. 

We came to leave behind the world a better way.”