| With in three days this week i received the news of the passing of John O'Donahue, Larry Norman and Pam Greene. John O'Donahue author of Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom. He died peacefully in his sleep while on holiday in France on January 5th/08. A Poet, priest and philosopher, he was not only one of the most articulate voices of living Celtic Christianity and Celtic wisdom, but he also had a clear grasp of the beauty of Christian mysticism as well. He was a trained philosopher with a prodigious intellect. His voice will be greatly missed. He was 54. Larry Norman the father of " Christian Rock" passed away Febuary 24th /08 after a long illness. He was 60. During his long carrer he opened for the The Doors and Jimi Hendrix fronted the band People, recorded his first solo rock album, Upon This Rock with Capitol Records in 1969, in 1971 TIME magazine was reporting on the growth of the Jesus Movement, and while Larry Norman took some steps to distance himself from it, he had become the most popular musician among its followers. he influenced generations of muscians, among them, Kieth Green, Randy Stonehill, Frank Black and Ed Rollins. Over 300 artists have covered his songs, including Sammy Davis, Jr. In an interview he later said of his pionering musical efforts "I wanted to push aside the traditional gospel quartet music, break down the church doors and let the hippies and the prostitutes and other unwashed rabble into the sanctuary...I wanted to talk about feeding the poor, going into the world....[I felt that] most of the modern music was anemic and needed a transfusion." I only meet Pam Greene on a couple of occasions. We were introduced by a mutual friend. She was an effervescent personality that filled a room with warmth. Her life was tragically taken in a freak car accident. She was 47. All three were followers of the Man that went about everywhere doing good. All three touched the world around them with the grace that had touched them. All three expressed that grace differently...All three have gone to their reward... John O'Donahue's most recent book, 'Benedictus', was published just before Christmas. It's a book of blessings. Here is a fitting sample.... 'May there be some beautiful surprise Waiting for you inside death Something you never knew or felt, Which with one simple touch Absolves you of all loneliness and loss, As you quicken within the embrace For which your soul was eternally made. ' May your heart be speechless At the sight of the truth Of all your belief had hoped, Your heart breathlessIn the light and lightness Where each and every thingIs at last its true self Within that serene belongingThat dwells beside us On the other side Of what we see.' |
