There is an earthly perspective and there is a heavenly perspective.
Last month the tragic and untimely death of the popular Minneapolis artist formerly known as Prince, was reported worldwide in the earthly headlines.
A few weeks ago we were lead to make a trip west to the home of an old Dakota elder called Blue who knew it was time “to make his final journey”.
His condition at that time was well described in my song,
My eyes are dim
My ears are deaf
My body weaker by the day
And some would say there’s not much left
But I know the best is on it’s way
And through this door I will step
Through this door I will come
Cause through this door, we first met
And through this door I’ll go home.
Father had given me a new song to sing to bless him on his way.
A week later I was attending a ‘leaders’ meeting in Minneapolis. I had slipped in at the back wanting to ‘show my face’ and then leave, but a brother noticed me and in front of everyone insisted I take the one empty chair – right at the front! I sensed Father was setting me up for something more public than I had wanted and sure enough after the teaching I realized the new song I had been given as a farewell for elder Blue was also appropriate for this time and place, so I rose to sing it for a second time.
A prophetic brother who knew nothing of elder Blue spoke, “The Lord told me that this morning that he was giving out color badges of honor. The color was INDIGO which is made up of Blue for revelation and Purple for authority.”
I discovered later that it was at this very moment that elder Blue had passed ‘through this door’.
It seemed that the heavenly headlines were announcing to those attuned to “the gentle whisper” that this had been the most timely death of one to whom an “indigo badge of honor” had been awarded denoting – a true Purple “reign” to come for a true Prince called Blue.
At the visitation, in contrast to the thousands who poured out onto the streets of downtown Minneapolis when the local artist died, a little group of family and friends had gathered in the tiny country church where elder Blue had been the ‘pillar’ of the community for decades. His dignified body lay in a casket at the front. There, at his side, was a pair of moccasins lovingly made for him by his Indian mother long before it came time for her son to make this final journey through the door.
Beautiful, intricately worked beads – in INDIGO!
We had some time to pass in the local town before the service began and found ourselves browsing in a local store. “I’ve got it!” Hilary exclaimed. “I couldn’t find an appropriate graduation card for Issac – but this is perfect!”
I read it and said, “This isn’t just for our young friend Isaac back in Minneapolis, this is also for our old friend Blue here! – another “child of grace” who has graduated – from this life……..and is ‘Just getting started!'”
On a final note, a few months ago I had the privilege of being involved in a memorial service of another Prince – from heaven’s perspective. You can watch it here. It is lengthy but you can skip to the Indian tribute telling Loren’s story at 39 minutes or to the tribute by Hilary, Ben and myself in story and song beginning at 1.09 minutes.