John Denver Remembered

John - Always Flying For Me

By Christine Smith
Photos by Mary Ledford

John Denver - July 1997

It's another beautiful spring in the Colorado Rocky Mountains…blue skies, bright sunshine, cool breezes, and tender green buds interspersed with blooming dandelions greet me each morning. The mountains are graced with glistening snow…off somewhere a hawk is heard…and as its graceful body soars above…I think of John…flying for me.

Sometimes it's amazing to think about the joy I've again found…that wonderful feeling that life is good…and that there is so much for me yet to do. A sweet happiness is mine once again despite that terrible pain of losing John from this Earth. Despite the tears, I know John wants me to fly…he wants you to fly…and the joy which makes that possible comes only when we bring love to everything we do each day. Miraculously, love given to others eases pain…theirs and ours.

John spent his life flying - literally and metaphorically. Surely the sensation of piloting those planes was wonderful; seeing all he could see. But John also knew the pleasure of flying while his feet were firmly on the ground…he knew the freedom and joy as his Spirit flew as he gave and shared of himself with all of us. He knew and taught us that it's only when we love that we fly. Despite the pain of living in this realm, we are meant to love…we are meant to fly.

Easter has recently passed…a story of a man who loved…gave his life…and has risen. A story reminiscent of all great teachers of love who have come and gone. Their short time upon this Earth leaving behind a legacy of such magnitude that we will always recognize and celebrate that they came to show us the way. I think of Jesus, Ghandi, Buddha…I think of John. Both from ancient and modern times there are souls who recognize the necessity of love and live their lives in an effort to teach that truth to others.

Such souls experience many tribulations and much pain during their human existence, yet somehow they cope with the pain of suffering and maintain that love is the answer to it all.

John Denver - September 1997

John suffered in his life…that's obvious. We all suffer. But he maintained his faith in purpose…his trust in love. Thus, as we know, he worked in so many ways to help, inspire, and ease other people's pain… in spite of the pains he went through.

It takes strength to work for peace when you're enduring incredible emotional pain. It takes courage to commit your life to relieving other's suffering when you find yourself in despair. Very few have such strength and courage…but John had it. He flew…he is flying now.

So it is with each of us. We are born, grow, experience sadness and joy, feel pain and happiness, and…if we choose, as John did, we can fly…for ourselves and for others.

John's beautiful memorial song, "Flying For Me", expresses deep appreciation for the Challenger crew. But it also communicates his heart's desire to "give a voice to all of the hearts that cannot be heard, and for all of the ones who live in fear…" Here, again, we find John's love for others. Poignantly he sings, "I wanted to give myself and free myself, and join myself with it all". He has.

As he intended, it is a wonderful tribute to the space shuttle crew, but it is also something more…an exceptionally personal ballad of John's essence: his dreams, his vision for a better world; his hope that his life would be meaningful and significant to the welfare of others…one of the highest callings we can aspire to.

I often find myself thinking of John's life and death. John gave us his light, he gave us his spirit and all he could be…he was flying for me…he was flying for everyone. And to me, that song is really a tribute to each soul who lives their life from love…from a wanting deep within to be part of the movement…part of the growing…part of the difference.

Singing "All This Joy", 1995.

Believing in love will not protect you from pain, sadness, or sorrow…in fact, I think you'll have more of it in your life. But it is not a bad thing…it is, as John sings, part of life. To refuse to acknowledge it is to refuse part of life. Being in touch with our innermost feelings is essential to being able to express love in the fullest way…and to all.

I believe John's hope for each of us while our spirit is within this human form is to fly…to love all life…give love in every breathing moment we have…to exclude nobody from that love. And, to remember that despite the pain we have while on Earth, that life is worth living. For as John said so perfectly, "In the midst of this incredibly insane world with all the terrors and problems, life is worth living. I love life, and everything about it. The first thing that is there for me in every relationship, in every aspect of living, is this celebration".

So, spread your wings…endeavor to examine your life to develop ways to express love to all. Make no exceptions…always love. No matter how much pain you feel…no matter what you have done…or has been done to you…no matter what happens…always love. Then you will, like John, fly.

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Rev. 5/20/05 jmb