Around Christmas time several months ago, I remember stumbling across a beautiful song…gentle, lyrical, and beautiful, called Clouds, written by Zach Sobiech. I remember being touched by the song, and listening to it several times:
The song was written by the 17 year old as a response to his mother who asked him to start writing letters. He said he couldn’t write letters very well, but he could write songs to leave a message. The cancer he had been struggling with since age 14 was back and there were no more treatment options…and she was inviting him to find ways to say “Good bye” and ways to leave a message to those he loved. The song went viral…millions liked it as much as I did.
I stumbled across the news on CNN yesterday as I was looking for information on the devastating tornados in Moore, Oklahoma that young Zach Sobiech, now 18 had passed away earlier in the day.
I went to listen to his song again, because I remember how much I liked it, and as a way to honor his memory…and I came upon a short documentary that had me appreciate him, his girlfriend and his family in a ginormous way.
Zach and his family chose to live life fully in the last year of his life.
He fell in love with a young woman who dared to allow herself to courageously love him back. For a fellow high schooler to start dating someone who has months to live means setting oneself up for heartbreak, and deciding that the joy of the present moment is worth it. She dared bravely and risked her heart–deciding a great relationship was worth it, even though it would be brief and end with her left behind.
He recorded some songs with good friends to say what he wanted to say, and to comfort those he cared for after he was gone
His parents got him his dream car to drive around for a week…isn’t that fun?! Look at the video and revel in his joy…revel in his parents watching him be excited.
He went to school and sat with friends and laughed at lunchtime. He joked back and forth with his siblings in the kitchen while they helped put supper on the table. He got together with friends and family and chose to celebrate life while he had it…to laugh while he could, and to squeeze every moment of joy that he could.
Zach and his family lived fully and presently with the shadow of death very present in his life. They were aware that he was going to die…but it didn’t hijack them into moroseness and desolation. Yes, there are agonizing moments of anticipating the end on this video…but there are many more moments of determining to capture life in all it’s fullness.
I had a class (that I’ve been dreading) to prep for last evening. I didn’t have time to watch this video…but as I was watching it, I realized I actually didn’t have time NOT to watch this video. It gave perspective to me about the challenges in my life, about the potential to create special moments for those that I love, and about making choices about what I will focus on that will shape my day, and over time, shape my life.
So…this week’s Hump Day Nudge isn’t the usual silly and lighthearted encouragement…it is the voice of wisdom spoken through the impish grin of a teenager who “gets it” in a way few others have. There are moments of joy that can nudge anybody through the middle of a work week…and moments that will have you question your choices later today.
Watch and learn from Zach today…and say a prayer for his family and friends who grieve muchly.
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