“On the Other Side” was written and first presented by me at
my sister Becky’s funeral. I do miss her and am encouraged that I will see her
again “on the other side”. Since that day I’ve been asked to sing it at other
memorial type events. My hope is that each time I perform it the listener will realize
that same assurance.
Emotional times like that just seem to inspire lyrics and
melodies. I usually carry 3x5 cards and sometimes a voice recorder with me to
capture the gifts that inspiration brings regardless of happy or “hurt” times.
While my sister was in the hospital and all were trying things to keep her on this side of eternity. I was even the
correct blood type for an experimental procedure that they needed so I donated
cells. She rallied for a bit, and finally did go home to be with family; that
is, her family on the other side.
While all of this was happening I knew that I wanted to give
her something more than even sitting as still as possible in a chair for about
4 hours donating healthy cells; something that would use my talent God has
given me. I wanted to give the gift of a song at her “going away” ceremony.
I jotted words down on pieces of paper; themes from books, ideas
brought to me when reading the pamphlets and other materials found at the
funeral home. Thoughts would come while I was working, or traveling by car to
her husband and children; or the other direction- the university where she was
staying. I would try to grasp all ideas quickly before they would flee. Finally,
one time when I was helping to plan the funeral with my brother in law and all
three of their kids, a melody came to my mind. I hadn’t yet told them that I
was planning this gift of music; I really wasn’t sure if God would give me all
of the words within just the few days we had left. I excused myself, went
outside and sang a few sentences (or a verse, I can’t quite remember now) into my
voice recorder. During odd moments in the next couple days I put all of the
collected words with a melody over guitar chords and I had a “fresh” piece of
music that I gifted to her and those who attended her memorial service.
What is the song about, really? As
I know that I am not the only “author” of this piece, but the vehicle by which
it came about, there are probably many things in it that I don’t even know are
there. My prayer is that each time it is heard, that it “speaks” to others in
the way that blesses each person with its own purpose. To me, it is about “us”;
we who are living on this side who stand before a great divide between our
loved ones who have gone on. How will rejoice when we join them on the other side
someday! In the meantime, we wonder about things, we wander along in our lives,
until we find the beacon that leads the way to Christ and we make a decision to
“accept” His ticket which He has marked “paid in full” and we wait for our bon
voyage to use it to ride the waves of that river to our heavenly destination.
In the meantime we follow
footprints, the examples, of the lives by Saints who have lived and gone on before
us. We also leave our own footprints for those who will come after us. We work
and wait until at the shore; we’ll board the
ship that is captained by Jesus who sails us calmly away on waters, which to us
can appear very rough.
Of course, we miss those who leave us
behind. But, we know that we are not alone; and needn’t be afraid. We too know
the same Captain who has come for them, who is rocking them gently away from
us; they are not gone, but just gone for now.
People who hear this song have questions and are especially
interested in knowing more about the “story” behind it. Well, that is pretty
much it. I recorded a version of the song with my voice and guitar. You can
hear it at my web page: www.terscott.com/memorysongs;
just click on the song: On the Other Side to play it. After
listening, please return to this page and leave your comments below.
As already mentioned, my prayer is that you and yours are
blessed by this song.
Keep lookin’ up!
