I found the following information today and just had to share it. I'm not sure of its authenticity, but it is a beautiful story none the less.

Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison's Landing in Virginia. The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land.

During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moans of a soldier who lay severely wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention. Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, The Captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment.

When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead. The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock.

In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was his son. The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army.

The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial, despite his enemy status.  His request was only partially granted.

The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral.

The request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate. But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one musician.

The Captain chose a bugler.  He asked the bugler to play  a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in The pocket of the dead youth's uniform. The wish was granted.

The haunting melody, we now know as "Taps"...used at military funerals was born.

The words are:

"Day is done; Gone the sun,
From the lakes, From the hills,
From the sky,
All is well, Safely rest...
God is nigh.
****
Fading light, Dims the sight,
And a star, Gems the sky,
Gleaming bright,
From afar, Drawing nigh,
Falls the night.
***
 Thanks and Praise, For our days,
Neath the sun, Neath the stars,
Neath the sky,
As we go, This We know,
God is nigh."
~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*

If anyone comes looking for me, tell them I have gone in search of myself and if they should find me before I return, please ask them to give me a call and tell me where I am.

That is the epitome of the 60s. Most of us couldn't have found ourselves, even with a spot light and a spy glass. How do you find something when you don't even know what you are looking for? I guess you just drop down and dream...the way Lennon did.

Imagine!

Only in Heaven can a world exist where we will all live in perfect peace and harmony, and our search for complete happiness will have ended.

Imagine, all the people here on earth, living only for today, doing what they want. Not giving a thought to tomorrow nor what could develop because of some action they might take. No morals. No sense of right or wrong, just living for the moment and instant gratification. No belief in God nor fear of punishment for the bad things they do.

For every action there is a reaction.

Whether we like it or not, we are responsible for the actions of others, if only by our own actions. We have each been given the power to make others smile, cry, get angry, feel sad, feel happy, etc. Imagine a world where it matters not what others feel as long as our own desires are satisfied. Imagine ten people who wanted the same thing...of which there was only one...and none of them were willing to share. Only one could win and the other nine people would need to be disposed of. Only the strongest would survive.

Where are we if today is all there is? I have seen bad times, and yet they have passed. I have seen good times, and they too have passed away and gone. Nothing lasts forever except the hope that things will be perfect someday.

It's vitally important to have a belief in a Higher Power than our own. It is important to have an After-Life to look toward. Otherwise, how many of us would ask ourselves...Is this all there is...and decide to end it all because our lives aren't going the way we want them to go, or because we are just plain tired of pushing onward day after day. What are we without that hope?

I feel that John had the right idea, just the wrong concept. I think he was a dreamer...yes. I think what he was really searching for was Heaven, but he was looking for it here on earth, and in this life. And in a world full of humanity with all its flaws, this can never be.

I think he was Imagining the way things will someday be... The way God has promised us it will be...

Yes John, there is a Heaven...and I pray you are there now.