Several years ago I heard a song by the Avett Brothers, and I loved it—the message, the melody, and especially the cello.  That instrument just speaks to my soul!

Recently I started listening to more of their music, and my admiration for their talent continues to grow.  I realize I’m a latecomer to jump on the band’s fan wagon, but I’m here now.  And I am all in!

I have particularly fallen in love with their song “No Hard Feelings.” I really, really like it!  

A few weeks ago at a family cookout, I mentioned to a brother-in-law and my son that I’d found a song I wanted sung at my funeral. The unexpected remark, totally out of the blue, seemed to catch my brother-in-law off guard. I think he offered some kind of protest and tried to deflect my remark.

My son, on the other hand, immediately quipped, “That’s OK, Mom! Don’t worry about it! B (his brother) and I have already taken care of all that!”

I became obsessed with the song.  I started telling others who might need to know about my wishes—my husband, our other son, one of my sisters. 

The lyrics are profound, and the music itself is so beautiful.  And of course, there’s that cello again that causes me to melt!

I have played the song over and over for myself and for anyone else I could get to listen.

One evening I asked my husband to dance with me as it played, but he turned me down. Could it have been because I asked him to dance with me to “my funeral song?”

My older son, one who often helps me ground myself when I go off on a tangent, told me that it truly was a great song.  Then he encouraged me to leave it at that and to just stop calling it my funeral song.

Oh—OK, I think I get it.

As I continue to marinate in the message, I’m beginning to evolve—evolve to the point that I’m now ready to declare it a song to live by!    

Why wait until the end to relinquish the stronghold grip of material things and “cash and lust?”  

Why wait until the end to release jealousy, doubt, fear, and hard feelings? Why—oh why—does it seem to take us so long to understand that those are the very things holding us back from the free and loving self we could be?  The lyrics acknowledge that those feelings haven’t done much good for anyone.

I claim to want to live in a state of joy.  I am typically a happy person, but I have a ways to go to dwell regularly in that higher state of joy I desire.  

So, what if “There’s just hallelujah” became my focus?  

I think it’s all a matter of choices.

I don’t want to settle for mediocrity in life, and I don’t believe we were meant to.

If I begin to live more mindfully—if I just slow down and become more aware of the thoughts occupying my mind—I really can choose to interrupt the ones that don’t serve me well. I can recognize them for what they are—mere ideas floating in and out of my head. And when I acknowledge them for what they are, their hold over me will be released.

I believe I can consciously pivot toward “love in thoughts, love in the words, love in the songs they sing in the church.”  

WOW! It’s thrilling to imagine how changing my thoughts to keep them love-centered can take me closer to reaching my goal. 

I’m excited even now about the prospect of upping my game and of reaching that place where joy will be mine indeed!