I went to a fund-raiser dinner last night. Okay, well I intended to go, drove to the other side of the city, rang the doorbell of the house whose address I was given as the location — only to discover, the address was wrong.

Alas, my cellphone was on the kitchen counter at home, I had no way to phone my hostess and get the correct address.

There is a gift in every moment, value in every circumstance. Last night, not being able to find the right address, not having my cellphone gave me the gift of time to listen to one of my favourite programs on CBC Radio — As It Happens. As I drove back across the city, I listened to As It Happens hosts, Carol Off and Jeff Douglas interviewing Jason Becker, a  musician who at the age of 20 was set to scale the heights of rock fame. Slated to be lead guitarist for superstar — David Lee Roth of Van Halen fame, Jason was living it up, playing hard and loving life.

And then, life happened. In the midst of recording the tracks for David Lee Roth’s latest album, Jason began to experience pain in a leg, he acquired a limp, his hands grew weak. His parents convinced him to go see a doctor and the diagnosis was stunning. At 20 years of age, Jason was diagnosed with ALS — commonly known as Lou Gherig’s disease.

The doctor’s gave him three years, five at most. Twenty-three years later, Jason is still alive. Still creating music. Still loving life.

I sat in my car last night, listening to, first, Jesse Vile, a film-maker whose documentary about Jason’s life, “Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet“, is out in limited release in Canada this week and then, to Jason’s father, Gary, as he spoke the words Jason said through moving his eyes. Up, left, right, down, — it is a language Gary created to be able to communicate with his son. Listening in, imagining this father interpreting his son’s words through eye movements, hearing  Jason’s words, was stunning. Inspiring. Moving.

I cried.

Such beauty. Such spirit. Such grace.

I had never heard of Jason Becker before last night. Never heard of this remarkable young man whose life took a decided turn in 1989 away from the dreams and plans he had to be a rockstar.

I’m glad I’ve heard of him now. I’m glad to know there is a Jason Becker, out there in the world, creating music with his eyes, interpreting grace through sound and sharing his beautiful heart.

I am grateful.

When asked by Carol Off, how has your music changed, Jason replied, “Well, it is sort of different because without my guitar playing, I can’t stick my soul into a tune, so it all has to come from the composition.”

If you want to be moved today, if you want to be reminded of the sacredness of life, the grace of this moment, if you want to be inspired, do go watch the trailer for Jesse Vile’s documentary of this remarkable human being, “Jason Becker — Not Dead Yet.”

Me, I’m going to go checkout when the movie’s coming to town.

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To listen to the As It Happens segment, click HERE — click LISTEN  – click on Dec 4 – Jason Becker Documentary – Part 2