Sections of this topic
The definition of a Swan Song is a metaphorical phrase for a final gesture, effort, or performance given just before death or retirement. The phrase refers to an ancient belief that swans sing a beautiful song in the moment just before death, having been silent (or alternatively, not so musical) during most of their lifetime.
This metaphor came to me as I was thinking about how I was going to write my last entry for this blog and wanting to link it to an older movie I recently watched called Brain’s Song. Brian’s Song is a 1971 ABC Movie of the Week (remake of the TV movie filmed in 2001) that recounts the details of the life of Brian Piccolo a football player stricken with terminal cancer after turning pro, told through his friendship with Chicago Bears running back teammate and Pro Football Hall of Famer Gale Sayers, who helps him through the difficult struggle.
Despite his early death, Brian Piccolo’s legacy sings on. I looked up his legacy in Wikipedia and was in awe of how his mark in history is still impactful decades after his death. Courage awards, cancer funds and stadiums are being named after him to honor those after him who embrace his spirit for life.
Make our mark
We never how much time we’ll have on Earth to make our mark, so all we can do is appreciate the time we have and make the most of it. One comment that struck me about Brian from the movie is that when he found out he had cancer it didn’t cause him to change how he was living because he already was living life to the fullest. Right away I thought of that quote that goes something like it’s not about how much life you live it’s about how much you live during your life.
Really living life
Are you really living life; a life filled with your greatest desires and God’s greatest desires of your life? We will all at some point during our lives have an opportunity to have a Swan Song; the beautiful legacy that we will share with the world that honors our life. Unfortunately some of us will, what another famous quote says, will go to our graves with the music still inside of us.
Bring harmony to your soul
As you’ve noticed, I haven’t written anything on here for months. I was taking a sabbatical to work on a book. It’s a book that I hope someday will be part of my Swan Song. During this time away I’ve realized that my spirit is singing a different tune for my work, a new melody for me to follow.
As I retire from this blog, I would just like to thank Cater McNamara for this wonderful opportunity to be part of this blog and for Linda Ferguson, my co-partner who has been the “glue” for it all. I would like to thank all of you for taking the time to read my thoughts over the years and I hope that at least one thing I’ve written will bring harmony to your soul!
