Above is a photo of my Dad, Chris holding Laurie, and myself with Robin on my shoulders.
I realized recently how our Heavenly Father does not just cause our lives to overlap, but has woven 3 of our songs together.
When the first of the next generation of Kyles arrived in 1978, my brother Chris wrote a beautiful song for his beloved baby nephew, “Robin’s Song”
Robin’s Song began,
“It’s a long, long road that you’ll travel on.”
Then I realized one of Robin’s recent songs that was born out of that long journey begins,
“It’s the long game now.”
This song of Robin’s proved in turn to be prophetic for Chris, who along with his family bravely battled cancer for more than 12 years.
Several years ago, at this time of the year, the seed of a song began to grow in me as the bus from Dublin airport carried us north through the Irish countryside.
“A rising sun o’er sparkling dew
Hillside clothed in yellow hue
Skipping lambs.
A wisp of cloud in boundless blue.”
We made that same journey three times this year, and watched those yellow win bushes gradually blooming until on the final trip they had burst forth into their full glory!
I knew that although the song had been given many years before, it was for this time, and this person.
It was Chris’ Song!
It was another thread of the Master-weavers handiwork.
Here are verses 1 and 4 of A Rising Sun, (or was that A Rising Son?)
This year I was puzzled when for the first time in many years I had to pay federal taxes! The odd sum was $167. I asked Father if there was some significance to this amount. He pointed out to me that the day after Chris’ funeral would have been his 67th birthday!
Then the significance of the ‘win’ bushes dawned on me. Chris had sung in Robin’s Song,
“And I hope you WIN, I couldn’t bear to see you fall.
That’s all that really matters after all.”
I realized…….. “Chris WON at 67!” (167)………in the sense that death has been conquered, and we have the promise from Jesus that “he who believes in me will never die.”
On the flight home from Ireland I found myself watching a movie on a screen in the row in front of me. It was ‘the win bushes’ in the Irish countryside that caught my attention.
Although I couldn’t hear the dialogue, it wasn’t difficult to figure our the plot in this romantic comedy. A wealthy New York debutante in search of the ‘perfect’ corresponding husband finds herself stranded in rural Ireland. She has one after another, “stiletto heel in cow pat” type humiliating experiences, trying to get out of the country in the company of a poor young Irish bartender who remains unflustered and supportive even as she falls apart!
Bottom line; she isn’t imprisoned in Ireland but in her own vanity which the Irish guy helps her discover as he demonstrates in their relationship what love really is. (Actually the plane landed before the film ended, but I am imagining that is the way it should have gone.😃)
Chris was that sort of Irishman. A true lover.
I noticed the Irish Tourist board advertisement at the Belfast City airport…….
Chris will be sadly missed on earth, but joyfully welcomed in heaven at, as my song says, “the perfect time to catch the wave and rise above.”
……..in accordance with the good and gentle Shepherd’s Clock.