For Good

This was the Thought for Today that slipped, almost innocently, into my inbox during the early morning hours. It was sent to me by a good friend. I could sign up to receive them directly, but I appreciate the connection with a person who touched my life when she lived here in my hometown, and continues to touch my life now, even though she lives in Florida year round.

You spend most of your life running after things, doing things. You forget that being comes before doing. Those who remember this secret make an effort to "be" and discover that when they stop and observe, life helps and brings whatever is needed. Learning to be is learning to be at peace. It is our most fundamental nature.

As I read this thought, I had an almost-guilty echo of a conversation shared with friends last evening as we indulged in ice cream following dinner at one of our favorite Indian restaurants.One friend was talking about her work-related stress. I slipped into my "helper" role quite easily, and even drew support from one of the others. Reading this "Thought" reminds me that a greater ease with all of our lives is available to each of us at every moment.

This time of year I really enjoy early mornings sitting out front on my Zen Walkway. 

I had finished my meditation, and was listening to myriad birds, savoring my leisure on a late-summer Sunday morning. I checked email. Joel, my co-author, had shared a link to an amazing video of professional singer, Kristin Chenoweth, who was Glinda in Wicked. 

In the video, Kristin calls a member of the audience (Sarah Horn) up to sing with her. Youtube user, Mike Kestler uploaded this video of the duet. I hope you will be blessed if you take time to listen. 

I have watched the video several times, and now I can finally watch it without crying. I was crying as I was thinking of my friends I had dinner with. I was crying as I was thinking of those I have worked with and played with and agreed with and argued with over the course of my lifetime. I was crying as I was thinking of how the winds of time have blown us together and apart like autumn leaves riding the river out to sea.

If you are reading my blog, I think you will recognize the truth and agree with the lyrics:

Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

After having seen the video, some of you will deeply appreciate reading all the words to this powerful song, so wonderfully sung in this chance duet by Kristin and Glinda. Truly, this is demonstration of the way every encounter we have (you can call it chance) changes us for good....

Here are the words to "For Good" (from LyricsFreak):

(Elphaba):
I'm limited
Just look at me - I'm limited
And just look at you
You can do all I couldn't do, Glinda
So now it's up to you
For both of us - now it's up to you...

(Glinda):
I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

(Elphaba):
It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend...

Like a ship blown from it's mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you

(Glinda):
Because I knew you

(Both):
I have been changed for good

(Elphaba):
And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done you blame me for

(Glinda):
But then, I guess we know
There's blame to share

(Both):
And none of it seems to matter anymore

(Glinda):
Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood

(Elphaba):
Like a ship blown from it's mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a bird in the wood

(Both):
Who can say if I've been
Changed for the better?
I do believe I have been
Changed for the better

(Glinda):
And because I knew you...

(Elphaba):
Because I knew you...

(Both):
Because I knew you...
I have been changed for good...