Yesterday’s entry surfaced beautiful responses, thanks to, Mairead, Linda, Frank jr, Mary Jo, Jane and Michael (not Banks), Tom and Mary, Nick, and others. How our wonderful God inspires the connections between us, creating a community of care and love. What a gift you have given!! Hope is slowly surfacing…

And then news can of Aretha passing over into her new home in the Kingdom. What a loss. Her voice has uplifted, inspired and challenged us for well over 50 years. As Aretha has said, her signature song, R-E-S-P-E-C-T, was meant to convey the message that “respect” is the one reality that every human being, in all times and places and cultures, so desperately wants. Respect is the foundation of all social justice teaching: the dignity of each human being comes from God and demands respect. Yes, horrible actions can weaken and even destroy respect for those who abuse their authority or position. But God sees into the human heart, a gaze that penetrates into the darkest corners, revealing the core humanity. And this only God can see for God is the One who creates each and every human being. God can only love and respect what He has created.

Who doesn’t know Aretha and her music? Her voice can never be silenced for it lives in vinyl, tape, CD, Bluetooth and memory. Can you imagine the choirs of angels and archangels in heaven, now that Aretha has arrived driving her pink Cadillac! Their sound has certainly changed and only for the better. Move those choirs with your gospel voice. May you sing in peace. Ff