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We find ourselves today in a very difficult, and hard place emotionally spiritually, physically, and mentally.
Our hearts so saddened at the loss.
Our bedrock faith is secure yet challenged at this time.
Mike and Diana have been the upmost example of true love towards Michael. The family has as well; Elissa, Tom, Brianna, Erick, and Jack.
This example of love has been as Jesus called us to in Biblical love; laying down their lives, placing Michael's needs first above their own needs, counting all loss for the greater good of love, and leaving their own interest behind to care, consider, and allow Michael to live a wonderful life.
We learn how to live even though grieving the loss.
“We live in tensions. When the answer, … is no answer for suffering. We still choose to live, love, and carry grief forward as to be mysteriously life giving to others.
In the big scope of things there is so much beauty and in the big scope of things there is an unbearable amount of pain.
Life itself demands life from us.
How can this be? It wasn’t supposed to be this way.
Keep wrestling with God and we are here; wounded, broken, and changed.
Somehow, we learn to live here to move forward with the life we didn’t choose, with a loss we felt we couldn’t live without.
One small step, one small act of hope at a time." (1)
This grief can also be described "it's like a cathedral collapsing, or it's like something massive, completely collapsing. And from that place of utter collapse, you have to create something new. You can't just like, stand up, dust yourself down and carry on walking." “….there is no good Christian answer for this except lament.” (2)
"And then life, like pushes at you, pushes at you, it pushes at you.”
And the point about lament is that we’re not telling God what He ought to be doing and we’re not telling one another what God is doing. We’re saying, “Hey, what’s going on?
"Yeah, it’s about who we are called to be in the present. We are called to be people who allow that agonized prayer to happen. And it happens either when something bad has happened to us or when something bad has happened to people that we love or people that we know about or people that we see on the news, whatever. And we simply have to hold on to it with the lament in the presence of God." (2)
We have seen Diana and Mike and the family, time and time again create joy in helping Michael in his abilities to live a meaningful, full life,
I read that "when Michelangelo created David, he said "I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.". Meaning, there is greatness hidden amongst each and every one of us, we just need to carve it out.
Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.
For Michelangelo, the idea was already there, inside the hunk of stone, whether by divine providence or his own imagination. His eyes and hands were merely the vessels by which that idea—the art—was brought forth into the physical world as he or God (or both) originally intended. (3)
Some thoughts we had on this:
When life struggles happened, when there was a “crack”, the entire family was there for him so he wouldn’t break so the sculpture could be completed.
- imperfections in the marble, or even unexpected crumbling didn’t stop their effort and hope for the potential.
- the weight of the marble didn’t halt their effort, however difficult or laborious
- where others may have viewed the block of marble as rough, imperfect, hard, or even fragile; they viewed it as a precious gift to nurture with thoughtful and persistent care going so far as to sacrifice much to ensure they tried any and all tools available to carve carefully and purposefully.
Closing thoughts:
Recall the memory of Michael that moved your soul, what he meant to you and the role he played in your lives.
“The passing away that happens around and within us is real-
“You were a presence full of light upon this Earth/ And I am a witness to your life and to its worth.” (6)
Glimpse of Michael Joseph
What memory of Michael moved your soul?
What did he mean to you?
What role did he play in your lives?
We share a birthday, planned by my sister Diana.
April showers bring beautiful, hardy, and fragrant flowers.
Our namesake starts life new.
A cherished legacy breaking ground.
I am thankful that "The grass did not wither,
and this flower did not fade” years ago.
Faithfulness, and loving kindnesses penciled down, seeing so much more life.
The twists and turns of our lives together
The nurturing, guiding and early life, so many times together,
Beach vacations, the birthdays, and holidays
Diana and Mike “set up a stone, a foundation, a rock of help,” all of Michael’s life
We humbly and respectfully hear, “The Eternal One has helped us so far …” (1)
A note, call, or text, a smile from them; light to the day!
Tears of joy together with tears of pain, sufficient grace along the way
Look and see glimpses of God’s grace fill the day!
We squint to see clearly to life as it is.
The rain came hard, water droplets beading like tears on the petals,
Now heavy, bowing down, the satiny petals fall.
Last few years so hard. Broken - recover, fracture - recover, cracked- recover, splintered-rising up
I wanted to “shake the Bed rails” and ask God why?
I thought “if we kept knocking long enough that God would get up and give him whatever he needs, simply because of our persistence.” (2)
“Keep on asking, and you will receive. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened for you.” (3)
Yet, Diana heard, over and over, “I love you, goodnight.”
God works all things together WITH those who love him.”
So, can love and care really save the day? I think so!
Can words we thought unimportant lift spirits from the depth? I think so!
Carrying on is possible through shattered, harsh, days- grace make a place.
Michael asked, “Are we staying at the same beach house next year?”
The time each year we built lives together,
Forever cannot take those days away
And he will be in our hearts as the years before
You can hear the crashing waves on the shore,
Seashells reach to catch the morning sunshine
Hard to leave when volumes of memories collide on the sands and sky and
days that you hoped would never end.
Last day at the beach, struggling umbrella in the wind
To stay firm and not turn inside out in the gusts of ocean winds of life
Dreaming of years to come, full and circle again
The years come and years go, and joy returns and then goes to the sea again
but the building of family happens
You don’t always consider it as it’s happening, and then it’s there in your hearts
“The way of love…Grounding, a place to rest amid life and chaos
Pulling us through when no strength remains”, coming alongside, devoted
Pausing *to lift up, eyes and hearts wide open to the path ahead
Even in a desert place, God, I have seen you lift, preserve, and provide fleeting times of refreshing
I will praise you though it feels so cold today “ it’s been January for months in both directions” (5)
Living is both “difficult and vital” but Hope springs up
“The only path forward is true solidarity - now not only in hope, but also in lamentation” (6)
Life awaits the other side of this day!
We carry Michael’s life and legacy forward, we say Michael’s name!
Recall forever the memory of Michael that moved your soul; what he meant to you and the role he played in your lives!
We cherish and are thankful for him!
Rare beauty , common grace
“You were a presence full of light upon this Earth/ And I am a witness to your life and to its worth.” (7)
We are crushed my dear brother, love far exceeding anything we know. The loss of such a friend,
“it is parting with a piece of one’s self....The more we love the more we grieve."
Jesus, full of compassion, assures us I will be there to greet you personally and welcome you home, where we will be together : "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." (John 14:1-3 ESV)
Glimpse of Michael Joseph Mitchell, Glimpse poetry by Joe Holuta
About this poem- Glimpse of Michael Joseph Mitchell is a poem about remembering my nephew. A memory that moved my soul was the times we spent together during regular times weekly for a period of our lives. We would have a brief time of greeting, laughter, dessert and then he would let me know it was time for me to go and say goodbye. Michael meant the world to us. Michael’s sense of humor recalling our comical times together that would make us laugh really hard, like our epic Aerostar van trip together with his cousins to Seven Springs– “remember that uncle Joe?”. The role he played in my life was that he showed me true meaning of resilience. Michael kept me honest, valued the simplicity and security of home, family and love of life. Michael lived this one day at a time experiencing true, unconditional, selfless love from those closest to him! I only ask Michael, that you make arrangements for my arrival and be there to greet me personally and welcome me home, where we will be together! – Joe Holuta
We find ourselves today in a very difficult and hard, place emotionally spiritually, physically, and mentally.
Our hearts so saddened at the loss.
Our bedrock faith is secure yet challenged at this time.
Mike and Diana have been the upmost example of true love towards Michael. The family has as well; Elissa, Tom, Brianna, Erick, and Jack.
This example of love has been as Jesus called us to in Biblical love; laying down their lives, placing Michael's needs first above their own needs, counting all loss for the greater good of love, and leaving their own interest behind to care, consider, and allow Michael to live a wonderful life.
No matter how conscientious you are as a parent the randomness of life doesn’t protect you from hard things and could not protect Michael from health issues later in life.
We learn how to live even though grieving the loss.
“We live in tensions. When the answer, … is no answer for suffering. We still choose to live, love, and carry grief forward as to be mysteriously life giving to others.
In the big scope of things there is so much beauty and in the big scope of things there is an unbearable amount of pain.
Life itself demands life from us.
How can this be? It wasn’t supposed to be this way.
Keep wrestling with God and we are here; wounded, broken, and changed.
Somehow, we learn to live here to move forward with the life we didn’t choose, with a loss we felt we couldn’t live without.
One small step, one small act of hope at a time." (1)
This grief can also be described "it's like a cathedral collapsing, or it's like something massive, completely collapsing. And from that place of utter collapse, you have to create something new. You can't just like, stand up, dust yourself down and carry on walking." “….there is no good Christian answer for this except lament.” (2)
"And then life, like pushes at you, pushes at you, it pushes at you.”
And the point about lament is that we’re not telling God what He ought to be doing and we’re not telling one another what God is doing. We’re saying, “Hey, what’s going on?
"Yeah, it’s about who we are called to be in the present. We are called to be people who allow that agonized prayer to happen. And it happens either when something bad has happened to us or when something bad has happened to people that we love or people that we know about or people that we see on the news, whatever. And we simply have to hold on to it with the lament in the presence of God." (2)
We have seen Diana and Mike and the family, time and time again create joy in helping Michael in his abilities to live a meaningful, full life,
I read that "when Michelangelo created David, he said "I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.". Meaning, there is greatness hidden amongst each and every one of us, we just need to carve it out.
Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.
For Michelangelo, the idea was already there, inside the hunk of stone, whether by divine providence or his own imagination. His eyes and hands were merely the vessels by which that idea—the art—was brought forth into the physical world as he or God (or both) originally intended. (3)
Some thoughts we had on this:
When life struggles happened, when there was a “crack”, the entire family was there for him so he wouldn’t break so the sculpture could be completed.
- imperfections in the marble, or even unexpected crumbling didn’t stop their effort and hope for the potential.
- the weight of the marble didn’t halt their effort, however difficult or laborious
- where others may have viewed the block of marble as rough, imperfect, hard, or even fragile; they viewed it as a precious gift to nurture with thoughtful and persistent care going so far as to sacrifice much to ensure they tried any and all tools available to carve carefully and purposefully.
Closing thoughts:
Recall the memory of Michael that moved your soul, what he meant to you and the role he played in your lives.
“The passing away that happens around and within us is real-
“You were a presence full of light upon this Earth/ And I am a witness to your life and to its worth.” (6)
References:
1. Jerry Sittser: Life After Loss, Everything Happens with Kate Bowler
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5wTdoqfn1lpqUpzZTHQ7pY?si=twvJhwZATbih5u81FaCJZQ
2. Clover Stroud: The Rituals of Grief, Everything Happens with Kate Bowler
3. https://nilsaparker.medium.com/the-angel-in-the-marble-f7aa43f333dc
4. Raechel Myers , She Reads Truth
5. Melanie Shankle, Church of the Small Things: The Million Little Pieces That Make Up a Life
“You were a presence full of light upon this Earth/ And I am a witness to your life and to its worth.”
The master answered, ‘You did well. You are a good and ·loyal [faithful] servant. Because you were ·loyal [faithful] with ·small [a few] things, I will ·let you care for [put you in charge of] ·much greater [many] things. ·Come and share my joy with me [Enter into the joy of your master].’ Matt.25.21 EXB
Glimpse
of Michael Joseph
What memory of Michael moved your
soul?
What did he mean to
you?
What role did he
play in your lives?
**
We share a birthday, planned by my sister Diana.
April showers bring beautiful, hardy, and fragrant flowers.
Our namesake starts life new.
A cherished legacy breaking ground.
I am thankful that "The grass did not wither,
and this flower did not fade” years ago.
Faithfulness, and loving kindnesses penciled down, seeing so much more life.
**
The twists and turns of our lives together
The nurturing, guiding and early life, so many times
together,
Beach vacations, the birthdays, and holidays
Diana and Mike “set up a stone, a foundation, a rock of
help,” all of Michael’s life
We humbly and respectfully hear, “The Eternal One has helped us so far …” (1)
**
A note, call, or text, a smile from them; light to the day!
Tears of joy together with tears of pain, sufficient grace
along the way
Look and see glimpses of God’s grace fill the day!
We squint to see clearly to life as it is.
The rain came hard, water droplets beading like tears on the
petals,
Now heavy, bowing down, the satiny petals fall.
**
Last few years so hard. Broken - recover, fracture -
recover, cracked- recover, splintered-rising up
I wanted to “shake the Bed rails” and ask God why?
I thought “if we kept knocking long enough that God would
get up and give him whatever he needs, simply because of our persistence.” (2)
“Keep on asking, and you will receive. Keep on seeking, and
you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened for you.” (3)
Yet, Diana heard, over and over, “I love you, goodnight.”
"My Life for yours", she lived out day by day
God works all things together WITH those who love him.”
So, can love and care really save the day? I think so!
Can words we thought unimportant lift spirits from the depth?
I think so!
Carrying on is possible through shattered, harsh, days- grace
make a place.
**
Michael asked, “Are we staying at the same beach house next
year?”
The time each year we built lives together,
Forever cannot take those days away
And he will be in our hearts as the years before
You can hear the crashing waves on the shore,
Seashells reach to catch the morning sunshine
Hard to leave when volumes of memories collide on the sands
and sky and
days that you hoped would never end.
**
Last day at the beach, struggling umbrella in the wind
To stay firm and not turn inside out in the gusts of ocean
winds of life
Dreaming of years to come, full and circle again
The years come and years go, and joy returns and then goes
to the sea again
but the building of family happens
You don’t always consider it as it’s happening, and then
it’s there in your hearts
“The way of love…Grounding, a place to rest amid life and
chaos
Pulling us through when no strength remains”, coming
alongside, devoted
Pausing *to lift up, eyes and hearts wide open to the
path ahead
**
Even in a desert place, God, I have seen you lift, preserve,
and provide fleeting times of refreshing
I will praise you though it feels so cold today “ it’s been January for months in
both directions” (5)
Living is both “difficult and vital” but Hope springs up
“The only path forward is true solidarity - now not
only in hope, but also in lamentation” (6)
Life awaits the other side of this day!
**
We carry Michael’s life and legacy forward, we say Michael’s
name!
Recall forever the memory of Michael that moved your soul;
what he meant to you and the role he played in your lives!
We cherish and are thankful for him!
Rare beauty , common grace
“You were a presence full of
light upon this Earth/ And I am a witness to your life and to its worth.”
(7)
We are crushed my dear brother, love far exceeding anything
we know. The loss of such a friend,
“it is parting with a piece of one’s self....The more we
love the more we grieve."
Jesus, full of compassion, assures us I will be there to
greet you personally and welcome you home, where we will be together : "Let
not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's
house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to
prepare a place for you?
And if I go and
prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that
where I am you may be also." (John 14:1-3 ESV)
**
Glimpse of Michael Joseph Mitchell, Glimpse
poetry by Joe Holuta
About this poem- Glimpse of Michael Joseph Mitchell is a poem about remembering my nephew. A memory that moved my soul was the times we spent together during regular times weekly for a period of our lives. We would have a brief time of greeting, laughter, dessert and then he would let me know it was time for me to go and say goodbye. Michael meant the world to us. Michael’s sense of humor recalling our comical times together that would make us laugh really hard, like our epic Aerostar van trip together with his cousins to Seven Springs– “remember that uncle Joe?”. The role he played in my life was that he showed me true meaning of resilience. Michael kept me honest, valued the simplicity and security of home, family and love of life. Michael lived this one day at a time experiencing true, unconditional, selfless love from those closest to him! I only ask Michael, that you make arrangements for my arrival and be there to greet me personally and welcome me home, where we will be together! – Joe Holuta
References:
1. 1 Samuel 7:12 VOICE
2. Luke 11:8 VOICE
3. Luke 11:9 VOICE
4. https://nilsaparker.medium.com/the-angel-in-the-marble-f7aa43f333dc
5. Wild Pear Tree, Kaveri Akbar
6. The Anthropocene Reviewed, John
Green pg. 213
7. Matthew
25:21, Song by Mountain Goats Lyrics.
“You were a presence full of light upon this Earth/ And I am a witness to your life and to its worth.
”The master answered, ‘You did well. You are a good and ·loyal [faithful] servant. Because you were ·loyal [faithful] with ·small [a few] things, I will ·let you care for [put you in charge of] ·much greater [many] things. ·Come and share my joy with me [Enter into the joy of your master].’ Matt.25.21 EXB
8. 2 Samuel:26 (MSG)
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