This weekend was a wonder of memories woven with love and reverence. Family members, along with Charlie and I, gathered to honor Jack and Kitten in "The Casting Ceremony." Jack's sons, Sean and Michael, gently released ashes into the waters at Dunklin Memorial, fulfilling Jack's heartfelt wish. The air was filled with stories of Jack and Kitten's selfless devotion, nurturing their grandchildren, and supporting their mother without judgment with unwavering love through some very troubled times. Each shared positive stories that brought a depth of emotion that moved us all, and I found myself holding back tears for a good 15 seconds, as I read from Matthew 28:34-38. I will send out a special blog post in a week or two that captures the essence of this service.
While Jack and I worked on the feature-length screenplay, Charlie, my dear wife, suggested a poem for the final scene. Its profound truth resonated deeply with Jack's life. Here it is—let me know how it speaks to you:
The Touch of the Master's Hand
Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
thought it scarcely worth his while to waste much time on the old violin,
but held it up with a smile; "What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,
"Who'll start the bidding for me?" "A dollar, a dollar, then two!" "Only two?
Two dollars, and who'll make it three? Three dollars, once; three dollars twice; going for three." But no, from the room, far back, a gray-haired man came forward and picked up the bow; Then, wiping the dust from the old violin, and tightening the loose strings, he played a melody pure and sweet as caroling angel sings.
The music ceased, and the auctioneer, with a voice that was quiet and low, said; "What am I bid for the old violin?" And he held it up with the bow.
A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two? Two thousand! And who'll make it three? Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice, and going and gone," said he. The people cheered, but some of them cried, "We do not quite understand what changed its worth." Swift came the reply: "The touch of a master's hand."
And many a man with life out of tune, and battered and scarred with sin, Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, much like the old violin, A
"mess of pottage," a glass of wine; a game - and he travels on. "He is going" once, and "going twice, He's going and almost gone." But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd never can quite understand the worth of a soul and the change that's wrought by the touch of the Master's hand.
Myra 'Brooks' Welch
That seems to be a perfect description of Jack's life. He made a few very bad decisions that cost him dearly, but God redeemed him, forgave his many sins, and made Jack a new creature in Christ. The last 40 years of his life and ministry were proof of his transformation all "wrought by the touch of the Master's hand."
Peace, love, and joy to all our friends!
Domenic and Charlie
To keep up with Jack's Legacy Ministry visit www.murfthesurf.org
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