Would you know my name...if I saw you in heaven!!!

I

In March 1991, a little 5 year old boy found an open window, that was erroneously left open by the maid that was employed in this beautiful apartment in New York.

The apartment belonged to a family friend. The boy looked back, saw that his mum wasn't looking, leaned a bit more than he should have, looking at this beautiful New York landscape as millions of sun rays were kissing the clean glasses of the buildings scraping the skies.

To him, it felt like millions of people were pointing mirrors towards the sun, thus creating a reflection, slightly caressing his face.

This was just what the Mexican people did back in January 1979, when Pope John Paul's plane took off after a very successful visit in Mexico. To thank him and as a show of appreciation for what he did during his papal visit, during the take off they directed small cosmetic mirrors towards the sun and his plane, thus creating a carpet of illumination all over the country. The result was amazing.

The sun, the reflections, the landscape and all the beauty and ugliness that the big apple offers were the last thoughts the boy was thinking about, before...

He gave a last look to the inside of the room he was in, but in doing so, lost his balance and plunged down to the ground, 53 floors below. Futile was the tentative to resuscitate him. He was pronounced dead on the scene of this terrible tragedy. It took some moments, for his mum to comprehend what really happened, but these moments, moments that no parent wants to witness, happened and presented this woman and her husband and all their family with nightmares, day after day, from then onwards.

The boy's name was Conor Clapton. His mum was Lory Del Santo. But it was his dad that most of us heard of, the singer Eric Clapton. Clapton's grief following the death of his only son, was unbearable.

In the months following his son's death he wrote one of his most beautiful songs ever - Tears in Heaven...

II

It was a cold day in February 2006, two days after the feast of the lovers - Valentine's day...the song they were playing in the church, was Tears in Heaven.

I never thought I would have ever listened to it in this context. On my left hand side, my best friend was lying quietly, down in his coffin. This song was the one he preferred the most, the one that was to accompany him during his last visit to the church, the last visit to the cemetery, the last time I was going to see him.

In the months prior to his death, he went through a lot of pain due to his terminal illness, cancer. During all this time, I used to call him frequently and I also visited him when he was undergoing therapy.

Patients being treated with the type of cancer he had, usually lived - unless a miracle happened - for not more than 1 year. The most heart breaking point during all this, was seeing him on the bed, peeking towards what was once his strong, athletic looking body, disappearing right before my eyes. And worst of all, I couldn't do anything about it, other then to let it happen!!!

III

As they lowered him down the grave, the only thing that my tears weren't stopping me from doing, was to think. And I was doing that quite clearly...the memories of the time we shared together, joked, talked for hours about anything and drank our favorite beer, the Maltese gold - Cisk Lager.

What amazed me though, was that he lived more than expected. He was a fighter. But he also confessed that I played a part in that. "Jack, if it wasn't for you and all your jokes and words of encouragement, it wouldn't have been possible to talk with you right now". For me sharing some years with him during my life, and getting to know him was a privilege.

IV

Before we said our last good bye, before burying him, before he went to sleep for the last time, I asked his family to give me the permission to say something to the people that accompanied him during his last trip - the final one to the cemetery. I can still recall what I said, a message that since then I have unfortunately repeated, various times and would like to share with you today.

"He was taken from us" I started saying trying to control my emotions but barely being successful "He started sailing on a boat away from us and every knot he sailed - the more we couldn't see him, the more he disappeared right before our eyes, the closer he got to the horizon"

I then sighed and looked around before continuing...

"The closer ...he got to God...the more the boat vanished from our sight, the more it appeared on the other and while we hugged him one last time, the eternal father embraced him forever"

He eased his pain away. Finally months of torments and suffering were over. During these months though, I realised what having a real friend meant.

V

The message today is clear, be the ones that show your love to your loved ones - be the ones to mend a broken heart - be the ones that will do the first step, for we know that tomorrow another day will come but yet we do not know if they will be there to accept our apologies, our shared tears, our hand.

If anything stands as a barrier, where love rules, break the rule yourself, break the wall, flatten the path for you first and for others to follow.

Be generous not only in money but in sharing wisdom and giving away your LOVE.

A lot of peace your way people of the world, citizens of heaven.

Jack
4.1.11