As a bagpiper, I play many places. Recently I was asked by a funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man. He had no family or friends, so the service was to be at a pauper's cemetery in the Kentucky back country.
As I was not familiar with the backwoods I got lost , and maybe it's a man thing, but I didn't stop for directions.
I finally arrived an hour late and saw the funeral guy had evidently gone. There were only the diggers and they were eating lunch.
I felt bad and apologized to the men for being late. I went to the grave and looked down. The vault lid was already in place. I didn't know what else to do, so I started to play.
The workers put down their lunches and gathered around. I played out my heart and soul for this man with no family and friends. I played like I've never played before for this homeless man.
As I played 'Amazing Grace,' the workers began to weep. They wept, I wept,we all wept together. When I finished I packed up my bagpipes and started for my car. Though my head hung low, my heart was full.
As I opened the door to my car, I heard one of the workers say, "I never seen nothin' like that before and I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years."
Apparently I'm still lost....
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