There's been a lot of hype the past two weeks about Michael Jackson. A legend, no doubt. Creative. Eccentric. Sensitive. Definitely talented. His posters were on my wall in 5th grade and his music shaped my life.
Conflicting reports of MJ abound on celebrity websites, newsfeeds, heck, Twitter. There's been a lot of speculation around if he could have been saved. Or how things would have turned out if he wasn't surrounded by enablers. Good questions to consider. Yet, at some point they start to feel like a disguise for "This shouldn't have happened."
When we go that route, we trick ourselves out of our feelings and out of reality. Don't misunderstand. I'm not saying it should have happened. I'm saying it did. When you begin to acknowledge that, that's where the real healing starts. Where we can learn from what happened and move on from it. Instead of being a nation of distraction, fear, and fast pace we can slow down, recognize what's going on, and make new choices.
In his spirit, I think that's what Michael would have wanted. His songs reflected that. They spoke of how we treated each other, the planet, and ourselves. From joy to pain - he got us to feel our feelings and think deeply about what it means to be a human being. I remember singing with my 6th grade class at graduation "We Are The World." In that moment, on stage, I was overcome with a sense of timelessness and expansiveness that I hadn't felt before. That's his legacy for me. It is part of who I am and that I'm forever grateful for. Thank you MJ!
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Afterword: I had written this post last week, amidst the chaos of celebrity news. I wanted to remember the Michael Jackson that influenced me so greatly when I was younger, before the paparazzi madness. I had no idea that the memorial service would be held yesterday, nor did I know how moving it was going to be for me. There was such reverence and respect and love. It was beautiful and I feel privileged to watch it, and to have been influenced by his legacy.
I've added Maya Angelou's poem that she wrote for him, for this memorial, at the bottom of this post.
This is also one of my favorite songs. Don't we all want these words said to us, especially when we need it?
I'll Be There
You and I must make a pact, we must bring salvation back
Where there is love, I'll be there
I'll reach out my hand to you, I'll have faith in all you do
Just call my name and I'll be there
I'll be there to comfort you,
Build my world of dreams around you, I'm so glad that I found you
I'll be there with a love that's strong
I'll be your strength, I'll keep holding on
Let me fill your heart with joy and laughter
Togetherness, well that's all I'm after
Whenever you need me, I'll be there
I'll be there to protect you, with an unselfish love that respects you
Just call my name and I'll be there
If you should ever find someone new, I know he'd better be good to you
'Cause if he doesn't, I'll be there
Don't you know, baby, yeah yeah
I'll be there, I'll be there, just call my name, I'll be there
(Just look over your shoulders, honey - oo)
I'll be there, I'll be there, whenever you need me, I'll be there
Don't you know, baby, yeah yeah
I'll be there, I'll be there, just call my name, I'll be there...
***
We Had Him by Maya Angelou
Beloveds, now we know that we know nothing, now that our bright and shining star can slip away from our fingertips like a puff of summer wind.
Without notice, our dear love can escape our doting embrace. Sing our songs among the stars and walk our dances across the face of the moon.
In the instant that Michael is gone, we know nothing. No clocks can tell time. No oceans can rush our tides with the abrupt absence of our treasure.
Though we are many, each of us is achingly alone, piercingly alone.
Only when we confess our confusion can we remember that he was a gift to us and we did have him.
He came to us from the creator, trailing creativity in abundance.
Despite the anguish, his life was sheathed in mother love, family love, and survived and did more than that.
He thrived with passion and compassion, humor and style. We had him whether we know who he was or did not know, he was ours and we were his.
We had him, beautiful, delighting our eyes.
His hat, aslant over his brow, and took a pose on his toes for all of us.
And we laughed and stomped our feet for him.
We were enchanted with his passion because he held nothing. He gave us all he had been given.
Today in Tokyo, beneath the Eiffel Tower, in Ghana's Black Star Square.
In Johannesburg and Pittsburgh, in Birmingham, Alabama, and Birmingham, England
We are missing Michael.
But we do know we had him, and we are the world.
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