Sunday, May 9, 2010

Let It Be


It's late evening on Whitefish. A few minutes ago, I picked up the phone to call my son, Coleman, to thank him again for the great visit here this morning. He said he was just reaching for the phone to call me and let me know that the sunset was worth checking out. Earlier this morning we sat outside on the grass overlooking the lake and talked about life from pretty much every angle. As we did so, we were entertained by the local wildlife. A red-tailed hawk flew over the lake in front of us, not once but twice. Coleman commented that he'd seen one over at his dad's house recently and later, that same day, he'd seen one sitting on a utility pole near his house many miles away. Shortly after the hawk, a trio of Canada geese flew by, serenading us with their honking. Then, a loon popped out of the water, calling across the morning.

The sunlight felt so kind and good, warming the place where we sat. We started talking about how a song can show up at the oddest and most interesting times, offering a message of reassurance. Unbeknownst to Coleman, for several years the Beatles, "Let It Be," has done just that. It goes back to the day of my mother's funeral in February of 2000. I have mentioned before that it was a very snowy day, the only real blizzard that winter. At the graveside service, as we each had finished placing a rose on top of her casket, my brother Jerry's oldest son stepped forward and sang, a cappella, "Let It Be." He has a wonderful voice and it was a sweet and unexpected gift. I asked him about it later and he said that as he was getting ready to leave Denver for the funeral he just knew he was supposed to sing it at the funeral, graveside. It was a beautiful moment under the green canopy with winter in full force.

Five years later I was sitting in the Albuquerque airport waiting to catch the early morning flight back to Minnesota for my dad's funeral - he had passed on the day before - when a father and son walked into the almost empty waiting area and sat just two seats down from me. The teenage son was wearing a t-shirt of the Beatles album, "Let It Be."

It began showing up with some regularity from that point forward. I was driving across Pennsylvania last fall, en route back to Minnesota, when it came on the radio. I started paying attention and knew I was supposed to exit. I found myself crossing two lanes - safely mind you - and exited to see a Comfort Inn almost hidden in the woods that surrounded this small town below the interstate. I pulled in just before dark and found I had earned travel points worth a free night's stay.

As we sat talking, Coleman said he heard a song on the radio as he was driving over this morning that seemed to be speaking to him. I asked which song and he replied, "Let It Be," by the Beatles.







26 comments:

  1. Wow, what a thoughtful, moving post. I am a firm believer that there are no coincidences. Thank you for proving my point so beautifully! And what a lovely, thought-provoking song to have so much meaning in your life!

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  2. Beautiful post. I just knew there would be a gem waiting for me when I returned from vacation. I am so far behind on my Google Reader items, but yours was top priority. I love that you have the ability to listen to that inner voice and follow it.

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  3. Lovely post. I look forward to the day when I'll have conversations like that with my grown sons. These days they are otherwise occupied - one with the demands of a stressful job and an expensive lifesyle, the other with the burden of untreated alcoholism and its downward spiral.

    Let it be, indeed! There will come a time, I know.

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  4. Joan: Indeed, no coincidences.

    Gail: Welcome home! Hope you had a great time in Colorado!

    Linda: There Will come a time. Absolutely. Both my sons went through their own individual struggles and came through to the other side as the fine people they are!

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  5. I love this post. Great song with so much meaning... Sometimes I just wonder about things like this. Is it a coincidence or...???
    xoxox

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  6. Sounds like a really good Mother's Day for you. I do like the appearance of birds in your post. Good sons you have.

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  7. TM: I continue to look at this and other phenomena and wonder...but, I don't believe in coincidences. I believe there's more to it and I like looking at the possibilities. I'm trying to stay grounded in this life and yet keep my thought open to what might be... I have some ideas... :)

    Jack: Thank you for reminding me, through your blog, how to stay grounded in what Is. And, yes, it was a good Mother's day. One of the best yet...

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  8. Was an awesome day! Love you mom. Great blog!

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  9. Teresa: The passing of your parents this last decade did not escape me at all. Mother's Day and Father's Day are bittersweet. --Jack

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  10. A lot of adjustments to make this past decade, Jack. Thank you...

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  11. Hi Teresa, Thanks for visiting my Japanese Garden post today. Loved your story about "Let It Be" but I think I enjoyed the images of you and your son together even more.

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  12. PS. I bought "Einstein's Dreams" today based upon some comments you had made in an earlier post. Looking forward to reading it.

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  13. There might be something to this new age stuff...the universe is busy talking to us. My messages, however, have not been as poignant.

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  14. Kate, thank you for your comments and I hope you enjoy Einstein's Dreams and looking at "time."

    #1 Nana, I don't know about "this new age stuff," either, but I've had Many interesting experiences that have given me reason to look more closely at, what I call, the Big Questions, i.e. what is the true nature of reality?

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  15. Ahhh, Soul Sister, you're a treasure! Will return to your blog later for what I know will be a super read...have to notify awardees...and had to edit to include passing on the award to a number you choose. Love ya, Kittie

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  16. I loved reading about Grandma's funeral and recalling little Jerry singing that song under the canopy. It was so wonderful when he sang that; so powerful. That was ten years ago, and I feel like I was just a pup back then in my life journey....my awareness is so much bigger these days and reading your blog helps me to really tune in to my surroundings and the people in my life so I don't miss a beat (or a message meant just for me). Thanks for sharing from deep within your soul........
    "Let it be" is an awesome song and carries so, so much meaning, in so many ways......different ways, to each individual person.

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  17. j: Thank you So Much for your response. It sums up, beautifully, how I feel about messages, too. And, about this song...
    May I add, Your photos of Baby Benjamin are divine. What sweet images you've captured.

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  18. Hi dearie, I second the first poster in that I believe there are no coincidences. This was such a deep and moving post. It's amazing that "Let it Be" has become so integral to your life ... my stepfather is a huge Beatles fan. I think its spiritual message is reaching you through your mum, and the song mentions "Mother Mary." The ones who love us never truly leave. I think they become angels and visit us in the form of a butterfly or a song or a granted request. Someday you'll become an angel for Coleman, and I know you'll do everything you can to bring him the peace you feel.

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  19. Dearest Meg,Thank you for your kind words and for sharing the forms messages take... I completely agree. The wisdom you express is a source of inspiration. You are love and grace, personified.

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  20. When you tell about these wonderful moments, I wonder what is wrong with me. I have a blind spot or something because these things never happen to me. Which points out what a special person you are. Thanks for sharing so beautifully.

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  21. Ms. Sparrow, thank you so much for your kind words. You're very dear. But there is nothing special about me. I've just taught myself to pay attention, to be aware. Once you start really Seeing it happens. Practice ! :)

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  22. Dearest Teresa- loved this post. I've been sicker than the proverbial dog for the past 7 days, so I'm woefully behind on my blog reading. First of all, let me say that the picture on your blog with the kid in the costume "Preparing for 2012" left me breathless with laughter. Thank you for that. 2ndly, I don't know why I keep quoting this book in your blog, but in "The Secret History of Dreaming" there's also a chapter devoted to the song Let It Be. Paul McCartney received that song from his mother in dream, after she had died and he was struggling with the band's impending break-up. It's no wonder it's such a powerful channel for you... Love you.

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  23. Isn't that photo a hoot? Gotta love that era...
    I thought of that book again yesterday. I must get it. I just heard the back story on Let It Be as I was getting ready to post the link, which made it even more relevant. Yes. Thank you, Kristy. So glad you're feeling better...Love, T

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  24. What a powerful post, Teresa. When I breezed thru earlier, I grabbed a few lines and knew I'd be in for an almost spiritual read when I returned and looked forward to that moment. Right now, it's late, the evening's quiet and I am so focused on you in the airport with the father and son sitting down from you. Let It Be. I don't believe in coincidences. Everything happens for a reason. As sure as there are angels (which there are), angels channeled Let It Be to you and your sons in so many beautiful ways. And, I've got to say that your relationship with your sons is beautiful, truly beautiful. Mother's Day can be emotional. My mother died on Mother's Day so it's bittersweet for me.

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  25. Kittie, I'm so sorry to hear that. A bittersweet day, indeed. Angels and spirit guides are so much a part of my life now. Once we open up our thought to their presence, the world opens up in some amazing ways. Listening and really Seeing have become a way of life. Sometimes I'm better at it than others... : )

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