Welcome to Tuesday and another week of your favorite blog and mine...Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!
We've made it through the Holiday Season (Halloween through Ephiphany (never thought you'd hear those two celebrations together did ya?)) and now we get back into the swing of things as we saunter down the January pathway. You know, it's the middle of January and you've finally gotten all of the Christmas decorations put away. You are eager to get back into the routine of normal. (Is that a real thing?) We hope you make Tuesday's Musical Notes a part of your routine as you get back to as close to a conventional week. Welcome to the 2020 normal!!!
With this return, we quickly realize that our interactions with others have impacts. Some of these impacts are tangible (training new folks, investing in your relationship with children and grandchildren, and in general just making things happen). Other impacts are less discernable. Believe it or not, folks watch you. Especially if you have standards and goals which they find admirable.
Many of us may never realize the true influence which we exert on others. It seems that whether we like it or not, we all seem to have an Invisible Touch... yeah!
"Invisible Touch" was the one and only #1 single for the band Genesis. (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Follow You, Follow Me", Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Misunderstanding", Tuesday's Musical Notes - "No Reply at All") Upon its ascent to the #1 spot, Casey Kasem at American Top 40 pointed out that Genesis was a band that had to get smaller as its success got bigger. The band started with 5 members and even though the lineup changed, it remained at 5 through their first 6 albums. Peter Gabriel (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Big Time", Tuesday's Musical Notes - "In Your Eyes") left the band after the 1974 release of their biggest album up to that time, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, making the band a foursome. The new incarnation of Genesis would record 2 more albums before seeing the departure of guitarist Steve Hackett, once again as the band was beginning to see even more success. The aptly titled 1978 release ...And Then There Were Three... would see the most successful makeup of the band and the personnel that would take "Invisible Touch" all the way to number one. As Casey would say..." and there you have it. The band that had to get smaller to get bigger...now on with the countdown."
The idea of an "invisible touch" or "love at first sight" is supported by Bible stories. In fact, we find in our narrative today our dreamer Jacob having such an experience when he would meet the love of his life. Genesis 29:1-9 New King James Version of the Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel Jacob was traveling for a dual purpose. He was running away from his brother Esau who wanted to kill him and he was running to his mother and father's relatives to seek a wife. When he saw Rachel...love at first sight. Jacob was willing to work as a shepherd for his father-in-law over the next 14 years to be able to call Rachel his wife (that was some invisible touch...oh!) We'll see how God works in Jacob and Rachel's lives over the next few weeks, but for now, if I may take this liberty...
Ahh. 1986. On July 19, 1986 "Invisible Touch" hit #1 on Billboard's Hot 100. This was a great date in an outstanding year! You see, just a little over a month after the Invisible Touch album was released on June 6, 1986, the next generation of Cross' said "I Do" to each other. While it wasn't a "love at first sight" situation, soon after our introductions and her attending the same university, I found an invisible touch finding its way over me in the summer and fall of '85. As our dating time grew, the inevitable meeting of the families came to be. While these initial contacts can sometimes be stressful, I found someone in her family who eased my anxiety and had an equally engaging influence that continues to affect my life today.
Her name was Louise. She was known to her community as Ms. Hopper, a school teacher for over 40 years. She and her husband had no children of their own, yet she through her skills as a teacher she was endeared and has children literally now all over the country. Perhaps you had a teacher like that. I had always had an affinity for the school teachers that I had and when I discovered her occupation, I knew instantly she was someone whom I needed to get to know better.
My first encounter with "Aunt Lou" came during the aforementioned dating time of 85-86. Her kind demeanor and seeming knowledge of everything instantly ingratiated her to me. She no longer was my girlfriend's aunt, but upon our first introduction, she was mine too. Her love of the outdoors and the life that inhabited it was evident through the myriad of her "critters" that were fed daily. Skunks, although not encouraged, were also given the opportunity to be fed off of her deck.
Her treatment of humans was even more exceptional. She was one of those teachers who expected and encouraged each student to live up to their potential. I loved hearing the pride in her voice as she would tell stories of folks who had left their community to go on and do great things, as well as those who settled close by and were equally successful in their local vocations. As long as they were working towards being better at their job and being a better human being, she considered them successful. And she told them about it.
Her love of her community and the people who lived there was exhibited by her service to that same community and for well over 50 years she served in whatever capacity was needed garnering the love and respect of those who lived there. She attended faithfully and served continually in the Methodist church of which she was a member.
She instantly became mine and Tammy's champion even when there were those who had doubts about our longevity as a couple, and she was one of the first to insist on being an email recipient and encourager of the blog you read today. Occasionally, she would comment about The Notes as she got caught up. Those comments were always positive and supportive as she was one of Tuesday's Musical Notes' biggest cheerleaders.
She had been a breast cancer survivor and lived the vast majority of her life taking treatments and then going into remission. All the while she continued to teach and when the availability existed she and her husband traveled the world and the country. The places that I have been through her eyes are absolutely memories that I will cherish forever.
Many of the things that I have learned about kindness and love have come from this precious woman's example. This past Christmas with her was, unfortunately, our last in this life as she passed last week. Her infectious smile was constant as she held our newest grandchild, who bears her name, and allowed one of our other grandchildren to crawl all over her. While we are sad about her passing, we are comforted in her testimony of redemption and in the hope of heaven as we are assured that her devoted influence over our lives will be felt and emulated to the next generations. Today's Tuesday's Musical Note is dedicated to her life and what will surely be the memory of her by many people all over.
"She seems to have an invisible touch, yeah, she reaches in, and grabs right hold of your heart..."
'Til Tuesday,
Serving HIM by serving You,
randy
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