December, 2011 Uveges News:
On Death . . . and Fishing" Final 2011 show.
Birthday Bash Dec. 3rd
The following is an adapted excerpt taken from a funeral I was asked to officiate this past weekend for RJ Stickney. My wife Kristen thought it was a good lead in to celebrating my birthday this coming weekend as Stargazer's Theater (on Sat. night Dec. 3rd at 8pm.) Not sure what she meant by that. . .
Death is not the end.
My name is Joe Uveges and I am not a pastor or a priest or a minister. I am a songwriter and a musician and a long time friend of the Stickney's. For some reason it seems like I've had the ultimate honor of being an officiant at a number of important family events in the last 15 or more years. Barb and I go back more than twenty years and John and I almost as long. I had the good fortune to spend time with Roland John (RJ) Jr. at a bunch of family events and I liked him a lot. We will hear plenty about RJ in the next 7 to 8 hours (get comfortable) but I want to start with a short reflection.
I have been to a lot of funerals of late. Usually the person leading the funeral will assure everyone that this person who has died has left life at peace with Jesus. He is safe in the arms of God. Sometimes, when I know the person well, I wish that this " funeral patter" was more real. I wish someone would say what we all might be feeling , that I wish we knew what happens to us when we die, but we don't.
And then I stop and really think about God. The reality of God.
As soon as I go there, into that question, into that uncertainty, I realize that I, too, am certain . I do know. Maybe I'm just too artistic, or too stubborn, or too broken or rational or egotistical to accept that inside of RJ's life, and inside my own, and in YOURS there was/and is such extraordinary value, such unspeakable beauty, an actual piece of divinity, that the ONLY place for RJ to be right now is safe in those arms, safe . . . staring into those tender eyes, safe . . . with those who've gone before him . . . safe.
For we are not abandoned. Sure, we all wander at times. RJ, like myself, was Catholic and at times was quite religious, and at other times wandered or found God in other places. But it is not like God is not in those other places. God is there sitting on that stone at sunrise on a pheasant hunting trip, waiting in silence for that first flush. God is there, in a raucous breakfast at Wade's Restaurant having coffee with his wife, Kay, or his referee buddies. God is there on Christmas morning opening gifts with kids and grand kids. God is there, in that fly fishing trip to the North Platte, at the end of that arching cast, on the tip of a leader, in that tiny fly that represents . . . hope. . . . possibility. . . .and deep yearning. And what, in that moment, was he really trying to hook?
I think, in some way, he was trying to hook God. Casting again and again and again for that ineffable comfort, that sense of finally having arrived, that moment of knowing that this is as good as it gets.
What I think he, and I also, forget is that we are the ones who are hooked. We are the ones on God's line, fighting, tugging against Him, struggling upstream, swerving into the weeds, diving for the stony bottom, giving up ground. He, lovingly, stripping out the line, with a small smile of admiration at our consistent though misplaced struggle. We battling away, but always, inexorably pulled back home. We have no chance of throwing that line. We are hooked deeply . . . indeed in our very soul. This is why it hurts so much, and feels so compelling. We have no place to go but back to Him.
Ah. .. but the ego loves that fight. So what the hell. . . I say fight on.
Fight on. Struggle for wealth. Save for the future. Tend to your children. Love your garden and feed your dogs. Give to the needy. Buy guns and ammunition. Yearn for a bigger house. Steal to feed your addiction. Occupy Wall Street. Send money to Herman Cain. Fight to re-elect Obama. Save the Rain Forest. Root for Tebow. Root against Tebow. Day trade and create nothing. Condemn the Palestinians. Hate the Israelis. Snort Cocaine. Refuse to have the abortion. Choose the hard path. Choose the too easy path.
I want to believe it matters how we fight. I want to believe that some battles are better than others. I want to believe that there are better choices. I think there are. But I absolutely believe that fighting God is inevitable for all of us, and it is just as absolutely . . . pointless. But I still do it. I revel in fighting God. I love to think I've got Him/Her right where I want Him/Her. But, I know, that God wins. Always God wins. And the maddening thing about it is that inevitably, we win too, precisely because he wins. We, and when I say "we" I mean "I", are simply afraid. We are afraid of losing. . . ourselves.
So, do I think RJ has finally lost himself? Yes, I think he has. I think he probably no longer cares whether the Vikings/Broncos win or lose. (Hey, hey, I'm just kidding! Football fans!) I think he probably doesn't care that he only bagged 6 pheasants in his entire life. I am pretty sure that breakfast at Wade's is a lovely dream for him that pales in comparison to sitting at the feet of God. But above all else, what joy to not be fighting that divine fishing line. To be reeled . . . happily . . . into the light. I yearn for that too. I admit it. I expect that maybe you do too.
God Bless you all. And Merry Christmas.
Well, to quote the car guys, "You just wasted a perfectly good" 5 minutes reading another Joe Uveges blog. I'm so very not sorry about that.
Two things: It is Christmas time. For the first time in my entire career I have released a CD at the correct moment to take advantage of holiday sales. Please purchase a disc from me. $15 for one. $10 each for all you purchase after that.
Joe Uveges 222 LaClede Ave. C.S. CO 80905 or download them directly from www.cdbaby.com/uveges
I can't tell you how important this is. (he said with tongue firmly implanted in his cheek after that lovely God piece I just wrote only a few lines above here. . . doh!) I understand that CD's are going the way of the dinosaur, but digital downloads are killing songwriters/artists. Most of us are giving our music away now in the hopes of gaining an audience for touring dates. If you like what I'm doing, please purchase a disc. I'll sign them if you so desire. . . smile
2011 "When The Smoke Clears" w/ Stephanie Pauline and some of the finest musicians in Nashville.
2009 "Driving" with Susan Rissman, Kj Braithwaite.
2008 "Joe Uveges: Just for Grins" w. Charlie Hall
2008 "When Freedom Calls" (soul journey disc)
2007 "Up Please" with Phil Volan and Jim Sokol
2006 "Volan, Uveges and Sokol" Live at the Black Rose
2004 "Promise of Portage" Best of Winner
2002 "One Down, One Across" w/Steve Hoke also a"Best of Winner"
1994 "Dancin' on Thin Air" with Phil Volan
AND 2ND! Come to the Stargazer's for my final show of the year. Dec. 3, 2011 The Third Annual "Bust This Birthday Bash". $10/12 Tickets available, call me (227-8648). Just me, mostly by my lonesome, but with a bit of help from Amanda Udis-Kessler on piano and Eddy Lieberman on electric guitar. Any song is on the table. You must make on line requests though. God Bless and Thanks for your support. Keep fighting, or not. . . smile.
Uveges News Archives:
November, 2011 Uveges News
On Halloween With Adolescents, Mission Medical Benefit,
Black Rose, Stargazers
October, 2011 Uveges News
CD Release Concert!
June, 2011 Uveges News
Summer Concerts, TV spot!, 'The Best of with the Best of at the Best of'
October, 2009 Uveges News
Cowboys, Portland, New York, and Castle Rock
September, 2009 Uveges News
The Chicken Scratch Diaries
and August/Sept shows
February, 2009 Uveges News
Cruise update(YEAH), Pete Mayer
Palmer Lake, Pueblo, Canon City
January, 2009 Uveges News
Peter Mayer, Carrie Newcomer,
The RUB and "Volunteer Day"
December, 2008 Uveges News
"The Mainline Adventure (for guys only)
and the last show of the year. . ."
March/April, 2008 Uveges News
"Karl Marx Lesson, Colorado Springs
and Denver shows, N.East tour"
January, 2008 Uveges News
"Portland OR, HPUUC, Soul Link, and NASCAR"
October, 2007 Uveges News
"When Freedom Calls CD Release Concert "
September, 2007 Uveges News
"The End of Summer . . .Portland, Black Forest, Monarch"
August, 2007 Uveges News
"Working Boys (Cont),
Aug./ Sept shows, Olive Branch Returns every Thurs"
July, 2007 Uveges News
"On summer projects, boys, and schedule"
June, 2007 Uveges News
"Ducks in trees, the Philharmonic, and schedule for june, july"
(click here)
April/May, 2007 Uveges News
Late April, Early May shows
and the story of the "Stinking Ant Eater"
(click here)
March, 2007 Uveges News
This weekend in C.Springs, and New Hampshire end of March
(click here)
February, 2007 Uveges News
Soul Link with S. Rissman, N. Hampshire etc.
(click here)
November, 2006
Pre-marital Sex, Tours and End of Year Shows
(click here)
September, 2006
CABOOM!!!
(click here)
August, 2006
August 06 Co.Springs, Creede, Trinidad
(Click here)
July, 2006
On Maggot Farming and the summertime schedule
(Click here)
June, 2006
Summer Musings and Schedule Through Late August
(Click here)
April, 2006
Music and Rafting on Bighorn Sheep Canyon
(Click here)
March, 2006
March shows and Monarch Ski resort
(Click here)
January, 2006
Soul Link
(Click here)
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