Because I Knew You ... For Good ...

I'm limited
Just look at me - I'm limited
And just look at you -
You can do all I couldn't do, Glinda
So now it's up to you.
For both of us - now it's up to you.

I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the Better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for Good...

It may well be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend

Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the Better?
But because I knew you ...

Because I knew you...

I have been changed for Good...

And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done you blame for

But then, I guess we know
There's blame to share

And none of it seems to matter anymore

Who can say if I've been changed for the Better?
I do believe I have been changed for the Better.

Because I knew you...
Because I knew you...
Because I knew you...
I have been changed for GOOD

One of my favorite songs from the Wicked: A New Musical soundtrack is "For Good." Elphaba (Wicked Witch of the West) and Glinda (Good Witch of the North) are about to part ways after having been thrown together as roommates in "college" and discovering that they could actually be friends. The lyrics are magical and sentimental and bring tears to my eyes every time I hear them.

Yesterday I rode to "Mac Land" most commonly known as Georgia for my training ride. I was about mile 8 or so when I looked up and saw a gorgeous, grand, majestic white egret - one of the BIG ones. I frequently see water birds along this route but they usually fly out of the bushes or the marshes and get away from me very quickly. Not so this bird - and I will call it a boy now. He stayed fairly close to me for quite some time. He never got closer than 15 or 20 feet, but he wasn't further away than 30 feet or so. He circled and flew "with" me for nearly two miles before he turned south and left me to the rest of my ride. I realized that I had not been fully enjoying the scenery and splendor of God's world until he showed up so I made a note to be more aware as I continued the rest of my ride.

As the egret left my peripheral vision, "For Good" began playing in my ears via my iPod. I knew then that it was Mac. People who knew Mac have said that he "visits" them and almost always as a bird, although usually and eagle or a hawk I think. As I listened closely to the words I took to heart that it had to have been Mac. I don't believe in coincidence, only in God-incidence. I reached the Florida/Georgia state line and called Maggie. She needed to know. I believe that Mac was the egret to show me - just me in my weak human neediness - that after nearly a year away from us he is happy, comfortable and BEAUTIFUL with his new life. Heaven must be "the bomb" for Mac to show up on my ride as a snowy white, perfectly crafted egret. AWESOME!

Thank you, Mac for coming into our lives however briefly. Our lives have been changed for GOOD because we knew you and because we are blessed to still have your family in our lives today.