Nothing clarifies life like death

I went to a friend's funeral yesterday. Nick Sanders was a man who lived life by the seat of his pants (in magnificently contradictory, courageous ways) and thrived on initiating, building, and mentoring relationships.

He was a gifted storyteller, and shared his life's richness with the stories of crossing it. To say that he shared them generously would be an understatement. This was deeply apparent by the people who spoke on his behalf yesterday, especially Nancy Armstrong 's moving account of her relationship with Nick.

During the testimonies of his impact on the people around him, the objects in his life were described as simply tools that enabled Nick to share his love of life with others. Music, literature, sports, the arts, jokes, a random object.

When I first entered the church, Metallica's 'Nothing Else Matters' was quietly playing. I smiled, knowing that the essence of Nick had replaced all the ornate, material fa?ades of spirituality the church had to offer with a final 'middle finger manifesto' to an obsessive, material 'race to the bottom' of who we aren't.

Later, as his beautiful wood coffin was lowered into the ground, long after everyone had gone, I watched the workmen bury it. Out of sight, and soon enough, out of mind.

In the end, only the spirit of a life that celebrated people will remain with us, as a warm voice...most likely laughing...in our minds, engaging us subtly...or not so...as usual.

This, indeed, is all that remains.

And nothing else matters.

Thanks for the reminder, Nick.??

Special thanks to Michele Coletti for a lovely conversation yesterday. It mattered.