Thankful for flies…
Odd I know. This is one of those peculiar happenings since Connor left this earth. One of those things that makes you go hmmm. Every Sunday during church Connor would do something to make us all laugh. Usually it was near the end of the service during the last hymn. He would begin singing in a country twang or just sing loudly, all the while grinning in my direction. The last time we were in church together, he sat next to me, at the end of the pew. His ornery self began to sing loudly. I looked at him with that Mama look, indicating he should stop. He gently leaned towards me and whispered, “who is going to do this when I’m gone?” I knew he meant gone to college, as he was leaving that very week. I laughed and jested that I was sure one of his siblings would be happy to step up for him.
Fast forward nine weeks later, the Sunday after his funeral. We usually sit near the front of the church. I pray my children will pay attention up front. It was the end of the service during the last hymn. A large fly was heading straight toward my face! In a bit of surprise I attempted to avoid it’s path. It proceeded to circle my head several times. My family noticed as did the lady behind us. Suddenly, I felt a swat on the back of my head. As I turned, the kind lady warned me a fly was buzzing around my head as she tried to shoo it away. The fly was persistant. By this time our entire family was trying to contain their laughter. As I sat there pondering the incident, all I could do was smile at the thought that once again, the last bit of music was quite entertaining.
About a month later I met with one of Connor’s friends, the last friend from home that had spoken with him that tragic night. Not knowing anything of my “fly” incident she began to tell me of her experience the day of his funeral. She explained that several of the Junior Counselors from camp Piasa, Connor’s favorite place on earth, were sitting together holding hands in their struggle with loss that day. They prayed to know that Connor was at peace now. She said that suddenly a large fly appeared out of nowhere and landed on her hand. She said it then went from hand to hand down the row. She shared that it also seemed to excrete something on Connor’s ex-girlfriend, which brought laughter to them. His friend shared her story with me and indicated how strange it was.
Each Sunday since his funeral there has been a fly in church. One Sunday we were scheduled to sing at another church with our Honduras mission team. I was sad not attending my own church. It has become a weekly strength to me. The fly had also become a reminder of something dear to my heart. I was standing next to Connor’s friend with the funeral fly experience. During the last hymn a fly intensely buzzed between our heads and down the pew at a different church! We were stunned. Okay, I realize this may be coincidence, but wow! I could tell you oodles of fly sightings since then, in places one would never expect. I do believe he would be ecstatic, about a fly reminding me of his silliness.
On October 17th, 2015, I was preparing to get a tattoo in his memory. A fly landed on my arm in the exact place I was getting inked. Another day I was at the cemetery and one of Connor’s friends sat down with me. It was a rough day and I decided to share my odd fly story with her. She listened intently and just as I finished, a fly landed on my arm. She gasped. As usual, it sat there for quite sometime. It then flew over to the flowers on his stone where it remained until we stood up to leave an hour later. Last Sunday morning I took the photo above. Yes, I took a photo in church. Forgive me Pastor Shank.
The fly is one reminder of the silliness and happiness my son used to bring to me and yes, often in church. I don’t shoo flies away anymore. I pray they stay and I smile!
Happy Thanksgiving and may a fly not land on your dinner. 🙂
MamaC
