What we do as Brothers
 

I spoke with a Brother today, hours after his mother's death. We spoke of those mundane details that surround a death. But later on, as I left his mother's home, I began to think of this complex, indescribable relationship that we call brotherhood.

I met Rich in '76 when I accepted a bid. He was a 5th year senior and I was a sophomore. He was (and still is) a pain in the ass sometimes. Yet this morning I stood there in his mothers house, just feet away from the room and bed in which she died. Why me, why now?

Do we ever anticipate this? Do we ever believe when we start this wondrous journey that we will encounter this? That we will be a part of the most intimate details of a family's life, a life that you would not had entered but for the fraternity.

And all this on the heels of my own mother's death three weeks ago today.

I am reminded of a song by the Hollies.

The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows where
But I'm strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

So on we go

His welfare is of my concern
No burden is he to bear
We'll get there

For I know
He would not encumber me
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

If I'm laden at all
I'm laden with sadness
That everyone's heart
Isn't filled with the gladness
Of love for one another

It's a long, long road
From which there is no return
While we're on the way to there
Why not share

And the load
Doesn't weigh me down at all
He ain't heavy he's my brother

He's my brother
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

I love that song. We always use it for lamp session before Ritual at my chapter. We use it with a story about to brothers and play it after the story ends. Always an older brother who tells it.