Friday, October 29, 2010

The Sculpture

Years ago, my brother Dan brought a very special gift to us from Washington, where he and his wife Nancy have lived for over two decades. Dan and Nancy try to visit their Minnesota home from time-to-time but distance and sheer cost prohibit any level of frequency. We love it when they come to the Twin Cities.

Nearly a decade ago, Dan and his daughter Jamie trekked across country in the car to pay us all a visit. On that trip Dan had something quite heavy and significant in the back of the car. That item would safely make its way from Washington state to Minnesota to our home in White Bear. It was a very special metal sculpture of a trumpet player, made completely out of discarded metal parts.

The artist that created the piece was Mr. Tim Crane of Shelton, Washington. Mr. Crane evidently scrounges up old metal parts and assembles them into meaningful art. In this particular case a Trumpet Player. Dan & Nancy wanted to present this magnificant piece of artwork to us as a reminder of our son Adam, also an accomplished trumpet player.

I noticed it the other day as I walked through the dining room, where it sits prominently on display. Something grabbed me about a deeper significance in it, as I thought of the precious gift from Dan and Nancy, about the fact that Dan and Jamie lugged the thing over 1700 miles in the car, about the 'Love' that went into the making of it and the purchase and presentation.

Love.
It truly never fails us. It comes in a variety of sizes, shapes and quantity. It sometimes comes in the form of a sculpture of one who represents the beauty of a soul departed.

Love.
It finds its way to us, no matter how long it takes us to notice its arrival.

I'm sure that the fact that the scuplture is a trumpet player, and Adam was a trumpet player prompted Dan and Nancy to say, "... let's get it for Mark & Linda", or something like that. But, at the heart of it all, their intent was to show us they Love us, that they 'remember' Adam, that they cared for our hearts. Our wounded hearts.

We were elated when it was presented to us that day, long ago. I still find myself glancing down at it and creeping a smile of confirmation that we are loved.

Cold, hard steel. That's what the sculpture is made of. But it brings us warmth and a softening in our hearts when we think of it and what it means to us.

* Adam

* Dan, Nancy and Jamie

* God's love through a gift.

Even after a decade it still evokes a tear of gratitude and a sigh of restful confidence that behind it all was Love... never failing, always present, quietly waiting to surprise us again and again with it's sweet presence.

Thanks Dan, Nancy and Jamie for your love.

Love Never Fails

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1 comment:

Unknown said...

My name is Tim Crane, I created the sculpture in your story. Dan posted your blog to my facebook page. I had forgotten about the piece, but I remember Dan buying it and why it was special to him. I am always amazed at the ripple effect of a simple act by one person, spreading out and touching someone else in a way that none of us could ever comprehend. I am so grateful that your words found their way to me. God bless you and your's Tim Crane