Of the early morn
At 9:00 on August 1, 2009
At just the moment when Marla called
To find out how her baby brother
Was doing
Ricky’s spirit
Has gone home
The Angel of Life
She has carried him off
Cradled in her arms
To the gates of heaven
With Rick holding the key
To the gate
That he made himself
Dancing to Frank Sinatra
“I Did It My Way”
Welcome everyone. Your presence today is profoundly meaningful for all of us who loved Rick.
This celebration of life today is the story of Rick’s life – through music that he and Janice loved and through the words, spoken today from Rick’s family, friends and co-workers.
The story has a beginning and is without end.
The middle of the story is about a husband, father, son, brother, son-in-law, cousin, uncle, friend, co-worker.
Yet, in some ways, the story has just begun.
Because Rick has left something for each of us to carry on. To make us better human beings, to make a contribution to the world to make it a more humane place.
If we have to think about the trademarks that make up Rick’s life, they would be living out his passions for life; living life with conviction; Rick was a brilliant problem solver. Rick stood up for what he believes. What really stands out for Rick’s life, though, is Joy. Rick’s trademark for his life is Joy.
When I was on the place flying in on Friday, the Lord showed me the Angel of Life carrying Rick’s spirit – she was taking him to a great place of peace – a place that has been prepared for Rick’s homecoming.
And on Saturday these were the words I spoke as a prayer for Rick as the immediate family members gathered.
In the fragrance
Of the early morn
At 9:00 on August 1, 2009
At just the moment when Marla called
To find out how her baby brother
Was doing
Ricky’s spirit
Has gone home
The Angel of Life
She has carried him off
Cradled in her arms
To the gates of heaven
With Rick holding the key
To the gate
That he made himself
Dancing to Frank Sinatra
“I Did It My Way”
I saw my baby bro’s life as a prayer – with goodness. He didn’t need to talk about what he believed in.
That morning with a great peace in the house I heard these words from Isaiah 40: 29-31
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
_____________________________________________________________
And these are the words I heard my baby bro say in my heart:
It was time for me to fly
When you hear a dove
sing its song of peace
It will be my song
A song of being released
To that place where my
Family who are gone
Wait for me
Where Nana Mac will reach out
Her hands to me
And where Marcia will be standing next to her
And though it is time for me to fly
I will always be close
Listen to your heart
For you will hear my laugh
My funny way of looking at life
And tell Mindy and Steven
Who are my heart
They will hear my guiding words
For their lives
They will feel the fierce love
I have for them
When it follows them in their
Adventures and in their
Big life decisions
And tell Janice
The love of my life
That my love will shelter her
Just as my arms held her
And remind her to live life with a joyful heart
And with the same zest for life
That we shared in our thousands of intimate moments
Comfort the family
Mom, Dad, Francine, Marla, Vinnie, Margaret,
My friends at Brewer, my buds
And let them know that the seed of joy
I leave with them
Tell them it will keep them going in the hard times
And sustain them in the good times
And tell them not to hesitate to stand up for what they believe in
To live out good conscience by living right
And tell them the seed of joy I have left with each one of them is
The unfolding story
for it is no longer just my story
But OUR STORY
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