You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.

As many of you probably know today is the 30  year anniversary of the death of John Lennon. It will forever make me sad that someone who had such a vision for promoting peace and love had to be killed in such a violent manner. The anniversary of George Harrison's death just passed on November 29, so I thought I would take this time to honour them.

The Beatles have had a HUGE influence on my life. My parents live by their music and if I look back it feels like their music has always been playing in the background. I don't think that any band will ever have the kind of influence and creative powers that The Beatles possessed. It is strange that the two who have passed on are the two I feel the most connected to.

George has always been my favourite Beatle. I consider him the real underdog of the group. He was just as talented as John or Paul but he was more apt to sit back and let the other two take center stage. He has a quiet and mysterious intensity that I identify with. To me, he is the epitome of the strong but silent type. Who would have known in the early days of The Beatles that he could pull out songs like While My Guitar Gently Weeps and Something. Maybe he never said much until it really mattered but all along you knew he was rock solid. 

John, on the other hand, always shone and it is clear that he belonged front and center. My identification with him comes from a kindred spirit in his never-ending quest for peace and love. John is the complete epitome of a hippy. While I don't exactly agree with the drugs or free love bit, like John I wholeheartedly believe in pacifism and just want everyone to get along. Some may think its strange that as a Christ-follower I can identify with someone who was very vocal about his gripes with religion. But thats just it, John was against religion and so am I! I believe in Jesus, and really, he and John wanted the same things for the world. A person like John Lennon seems almost rare nowadays.  But I think we can all agree that the world needs more peace makers.  

To end, I'll leave you with three favourite Lennon quotations and Harrison song. Rest in peace, big guys...

"If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there'd be peace" 

"If someone thinks that love and peace is a cliche that must be left behind in the sixties, that's his problem. Love and peace are eternal." 

"As usual, there is a great woman behind every idiot." 

I'm stepping out this old brown shoe, baby I'm in love with you.

*ish