From watching my child sing “ABC” in a school musical, to the white glove, to remembering how meticulously I memorized the dance moves from “Thriller”, Michael Jackson’s legacy, his music, and his art has touched my life.

Following are my favorite lyrics from his song, “Heal The World”. These words continue to resonate today, as we not only look around the globe, but as we also look within our own neighborhoods, our own homes,                                           and in our own hearts.

There’s a place in your heart
And I know that it is love
And this place could be much
Brighter than tomorrow.

And if you really try
You’ll find there’s no need to cry
In this place you’ll feel
There’s no hurt or sorrow.

There are ways to get there
If you care enough for the living
Make a little space, make a better place.

(Chorus)
Heal the world
Make it a better place
For you and for me and the entire human race
There are people dying
If you care enough for the living
Make a better place for
You and for me.
….
And the dream we would conceived in
Will reveal a joyful face
And the world we once believed in
Will shine again in grace
Then why do we keep strangling life
Wound this earth, crucify it’s soul
Though it’s plain to see, this world is heavenly
Be God’s glow.

We could fly so high
Let our spirits never die
In my heart I feel
You are all my brothers
Create a world with no fear
Together we’ll cry happy tears
See the nations turn
Their swords into plowshares
We could really get there
If you cared enough for the living
Make a little space to make a better place.