Feb

24

Introducing Paul Butler!

Filed Under Live-Again-Family 

paul-025.JPGPauly is my second born nephew, the dear son of my only sister, born on the same day as my second son, Caleb. Thank goodness we don’t really remember our second birthdays because Caleb’s was spend at home with his dad (not a bad thing by any means), and without his mom (me). I was at the hospital with my younger sister, wishing it were I there in that hospital bed, just so she wouldn’t have to bear the pains of labor herself. My apologies to my son for practically missing his whole 2nd birthday, and my thanks to my sister for letting me share such a miraculous experience with her.

After a long labor and an unplanned cesarean section, a nurse wheeled a precious baby boy out into the maternity area hallway, and I thought I would burst with excitement staring into the enlightened eyes of my sister’s first-born child. I remember it just like I remember looking into my own sons’ newborn eyes and my grandson’s newborn eyes. It is a look that for me, only freshly birthed babes have. They look so wise and intense, and make me feel like they know much more than I. They are born knowing they only need loving nourishment. They need nourishment of mind, body and soul. We are born knowing the love is all that really matters. Why do we let ourselves forget at times?

Last night I was privileged to watch my now 21-year-old nephew rock it out! He preformed solo at Un Mundo Café, a neat coffee shop in Springfield, Ohio. His performance was amazing to watch! He sang songs he had written and melted into his guitar as he played with his heart and soul.

I was amazed at his talent, and felt honored to be there in his presence, yet once again. I was honored to witness his musical abilities and his creativity. How many people can write entire songs, lyrics and music and then perform them so flawlessly? But mostly I was honored to witness Paul knowing and living his passion, and doing so at the age of 21.

I watched my shy nephew, stand on the stage and live in the moment, a moment that only contained passion. I watched him dissolve into the songs and play his guitar like it was a permanent part of him that had always been with him. I watched him perform with a fun and fresh excitement that I had not seen in him before. With his guitar in his hand, his mouth to the microphone, and sweaty wet hair clinging to his head, I saw that look in his eyes that I had first witness 21 years ago. Yes, I was honored and privileged to be there with him again.

Is this what our passions do for us? Do they remind us, somewhere deep in our souls, that love is really all that matters?

I have spent a lot of time over the years wondering what my passions are. I have also wondered if I would really know when a passion presented itself. Would it come to me like a lightening bolt and burn itself into my forehead? Now I am thinking back to the first moment I met my nephew, my own sons and my grandson, and I am wondering if our passions have always been buried within us. Maybe it was passion I saw in those knowing newborn eyes, just waiting to be rediscovered and remembered.

Maybe the path to finding our passions is simply realizing love. During those moments of time when all feels good and right with the world, and we know that love is all that really matters, we should stop and look at what we are doing, make a mental note, or better yet, a soul note, and ask ourselves if maybe this is a passion.

What makes you feel whole, right and good? What makes your eyes resemble those of a new life? What makes you know that love is all that truly matters? Do you know your passions?

Thanks for another live-again-day Paul!

And a child shall lead them…

Let’s live another live-again-day!

Filed Under Live-Again-Family |

Comments

4 Responses to “Introducing Paul Butler!”

  1. lesa on February 24th, 2008 8:16 pm

    Thankyou for such kind words.
    I am overwhelmed with emotion.
    Love you,Lesa

  2. Paul on February 24th, 2008 9:18 pm

    Wow! Thank you aunt Kelly. I feel like a creep 99.9% of the time…except of course when I am playing. I tell my mom that its alright if I don’t make and it is. I just have to know at the end of the day that I gave it all I could.

    Thank you,

    Paul.

  3. Grandma & Grandpa on February 25th, 2008 12:06 am

    We were there to watch Paul perform last night, and Kelly you described it perfectly!
    Thank you Kelly & Thank you Paulie.
    xoxo

  4. Amanda on February 25th, 2008 8:01 pm

    It’s about time you wrote another blog. I was not there but this blog was still really refreshing.

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