As the Nobel Prizes are being announced in the last week, I am remembering that a year ago, I was in Oslo, Norway, and actually traveled to the site of the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, the Oslo City Hall. This year the award went to the World Food Programme as announced just a couple of days ago, however, I understand that this year the December ceremony will be held at the city’s university because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Here are some of the pictures I took at the city hall:

So you remember that in my last post, I wrote that Bud Klein, who passed away in September, was honored by his choir for 30 years of service. I conferred with Sally Hattemer, a member of the Waiokeola Congregational Church choir, about the anthem by Allen Pote, “If God Is For Us,” which was commissioned in secret and then performed for the occasion. She shared with me an extraordinary thank you letter that Bud wrote to the choir, in which he compared the commission like “receiving the Nobel Prize.”

Here’s Bud’s letter—I’m sure that he would be pleased to share it with you. (Sally was absent the day that the anthem was performed, May 21, 1995; hence, the reason for the handwritten note at the top.)

Two sections stood out for me:

“One friend said how wonderful it was that this was done while I was here on this earth to enjoy it, and not done at a memorial service after I’m dead.”

“It’s like getting a Nobel Prize. That anyone, that you, could care for me that much — is difficult for me to accept, but glorious for me to realize.”

I am happy that Bud was able to share in this glory while he was alive. The piece was also performed at the 1995 Oahu Church Choir Festival.

What an incredible gift!