Last Friday, I attended the funeral for Lillian Reba Moses. I believe I had only met her once, at the Community Health Center’s 40th anniversary earlier this year. She was one of the founders of CHC, and if it weren’t for her work, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I listened to stories of her dedication and commitment to the community, and I couldn’t help but think of a world where there were people like “Mother Moses” looking after the people of the community with a stern but compassionate watchful eye.

The loss of these archetypal maternal figures has almost become a cliché about what is wrong with society today. Too often we fail to look out for one another the way Reba did during her life.

Amidst all of the strife, Reba clung to her beliefs, and the hymn that echoed through the service was “It Is Well with My Soul”.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

On Saturday evening, I attended a music event at my local high school. Tying together the great performance was creativity and compassion, the twenty-first century skills that are also as ageless as caring for the community. I had thought of writing a blog post about Mother Moses, Music in Motion and the coming of Hurricane Sandy. We are at our best when we come together as a community, either the way Mother Moses brought people together, or the way music teachers at Amity High School brought people together.

Today, that community is gathering around my family and me. Last night, my mother died in a Hurricane Sandy related automobile accident. She was a few years younger than Mother Moses, but they share a birthday.

My sorrows are rolling like sea billows, and the sea has been particularly roiled these past few days. Yet at the same time, peace like a river is attending my way and I can say that it is well with my soul, having known people like Mother Moses and my own mother who have cared so much for their communities.