At this time last Sunday, I was in a church in Arizona, gladly sitting between two lovely ladies. Kaye C. Upham to my left, and her girl Jordyn Kube on my right. We three were far from alone there. I guess well over a thousand souls shared that common space. There was music, heartfelt song. And earnest prayers for survival in a troubled world.
I felt the presence of my Momma there. She was given credit for decades ago having urged Kaye and her eldest daughter Nikki Neely to find their way through life’s maze by finding their way to these pews we occupied today.
When I do attend, I seek my Momma’s company there still, no matter what city I’m in on that day…She and Jesus find me there.
But today, I was in awe of the three ladies there with me…and honored to be able to join them so far from my home.
But there came that moment when Jordyn embraced me from her quiet space there next to me…taking my hand and nudging me to open my heart, along with hers in the midst of her good fight she’s urgently waging. And too, Kaye seized my left hand, and completed the opening of the doors to my heart there.
Then I was gladly defenseless, and the chorus of the masses there collectively began, whilst all there held the hands of two others, and in turn; of all the others attending there in sight of that cross…
And then began the glad sound of over a thousand voices celebrating, pleading, sharing their faith, “…Our Father, who art in heaven. Hallowed be thy name…”
And in that moment, I felt not the gravity of Kaye and Jordyn and Nikki’s struggle, but the enormity of the community there giving them a knowing dose of the medicine that no clinic, no chemotherapy, no intravenous elixir can. It is called by several names, love, encouragement, praise, prayer, knowing…but the two most vital ingredients that were being administered there in that uplifting moment by the power of the thousand and more; Faith, and Hope…in huge doses. Enough to drown a cancer, and float a struggling young soul. Enough to give her momma Kaye a sea of positive waters she can soak in, along with her girls. Enough to keep Jordyn more readily afloat instead of treading the troubled waters.
I felt the gift of this moment. I was filled with it all to overflowing. And it sweetly Lorded over the doubt. Over the anger. Over the questions. It is a gift to feel the supportive air of faith, over the ominous presence of dread that cancer carries with it…
I hope that Jordyn is able to realize and feel what I felt there in that beautiful moment shared by her momma and I. I hope that she can sigh a happier sigh when the moments are shaded and near to dark. I pray that she can know, that all those decades ago when my Momma sent Kaye to that place with the cross and the gathered souls, that she was already knowing Jordyn, and her struggle…and gifting her these doses of faith, and hope.
Even in the midst of the most unkind things, life and love is kind…and hope and faith will carry us over the rockiest of roads, and light the darkest of them.
Thanks Momma, and Kaye, and Nikki, and THE Jordyn Kube, for letting me join you there, I gladly shan’t be the same…Matty.
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Matthew Lyle Landsman 