Sunday, November 11, 2007

Medium Rare

Yes, I Think I Get The Message

John Edward photograph supplied by Di O'Neill


When Alfred St John married Margaret Wood-Collins, the wedding was covered in the British paper The Statesman. I guess it was fairly big news at the time, because the groom was a prominent singer, a tenor who regularly performed at Government House before the biggest dignitaries of the time.

He was hailed by critics as one of the finest tenors in what was then the British empire. How do I know that? As a little bloke, I remember being fascinated by a velvet-bound book with several old newspaper clippings extolling Alfred St John's voice.

All this suddenly became relevant to me in a very unexpected manner at the medium, author and television host John Edward performance at Hamer Hall on Thursday night.

At a sellout night by the US medium, author and TV personality who reckons he would move to Australia if he had half a chance, I was sitting in the balcony. I was with my wife, who lost her father very suddenly a year ago. She was there with a completely open mind, but I have to admit I was fervently hoping that a message would come through for her from her father, who passed away just minutes before she could get to the hospital - after a flight that had taken her almost halfway around the world.

In the second half of the performance, John Edward was talking to someone when he looked straight at us. He pointed directly to us and said: ``Who sang on stage? Someone sang on stage ...''

It took a split second for me to erase the perception that the message, if there was any, was for me and for my wife. But before I could answer, a young man three seats to my right and one row in front stood up very hesitantly and said he had sung to his fiancee at the weekend.

Not on stage, you see. And not where John Edward was pointing. But I sat there riveted as a long series of validations came through for the young man and several other members of his family.

You see, the tenor's full name was Alfred St John McMahon. He was my grandfather. I never met him, because he died when my own father, the eldest of four brother, was about 16. My Dad then had no option but to join the workforce to provide for the family and to pay the boarding school fees for his brothers.

In my school and university years, I regularly took significant roles in theatre and once sang on stage. My eldest daughter also sang on stage in a leading role in a rock musical. My son regularly performed on stage during his years with the National Children's Choir and continues to sing as a guitarist and vocalist with a Christian rock band.

Maybe the message that night was for me, maybe not. But I was absolutely delighted that the newly engaged couple and their family members were so clearly overwhelmed with the messages of love.

Later, I realised there had indeed been a validation for me and my family too.

Before the young bloke took the microphone, John Edward, still looking directly at my wife and me, said: ``They were there for you.''

Hamer Hall, Melbourne. Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

22 comments:

i beati said...

yipes jaw drops

david mcmahon said...

Hi ibeati,

Pretty much my reaction as well. I am amazed at what transpired.

Cheers

David

imac said...

Very riverting story there David.
I bet you got a chill run through tour body when he said that.
Years ago I went to a private reading and was truly amazed at what was said.

I had a quite a bit of trouble with puter just lately, and my emails were not popping up when they should have also it shuts itself down at times, therefore iv'e just found your emails, so sorry I havent answered before.

david mcmahon said...

G'day imac,

I'm still amazed at what happened, so I can imagine your reaction at the private reading.

Don't worry about replying to emails. I'm not the sort o bloke to take umbrage.

But you knew that, right?!!!

Cheers

David

Papoosue said...

Pretty interesting evening David! What was really spooky however, was the fact that as I read imac's comments I got deja vu as I remembered reading them before (or not) - it's a strange world huh?

savannah said...

you just never know...

Shrink Wrapped Scream said...

Sounds like you and yours were hi-jacked, my friend! That's so validating to think someone so very loved may still be around, isn't it?

Lin said...

My neighbour dragged me to a reading by Sitting Bull's great granddaughter who said that she saw the letters MN and we would therefore be moving to Minnesota. I suppose even mediums can be subject to dyslexia - we moved to NM! Sounds like you did better with Mr. Edwards but I wish he had come through with a specific message for your wife - it does help with the sorrow of losing a loved one.

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

Fascinating!

david mcmahon said...

Hi Papoosue,

Sure is a strange world. And we simply cannot explai everything.

Keep smiling

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Savannah,

So true. I'm a rationalist rather than a cynic - and what happened really had me intrigued.

Keep smiling

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Carol,

At least the other family got some amazing recounts, and that was very important.

I have no regrets that their messages came through so strongly.

Cheer

David

david mcmahon said...

iH niL,

aixelsyD?

Your tale made my day! Take care out there, ni eht kreeC,

Cheers

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Kimberly,

And I have no explanation for it ....

He certainly has an amazing gift.

Cheers

David

MK said...

Out of curiosity, is John Edward big in Australia? He was a huge thing in the States a few years back, but he's not heard about as much any more. He still has a tv show, but it was moved from network tv to a premium channel on cable so many people don't get it. But I've been hearing his name pop up regarding Australia a few times recently.

Mary said...

Sorry, mking624 was me...I accidentally signed on with my yahoo account rather than my blogger one.

Corey~living and loving said...

WOW interesting. I too had not heard much about John Edward recently. I wondered what ever happened with him.

I would have enjoyed seeing him and the process.

Deborah Gamble said...

Wow! What a lovely and inspiring story. A beautiful read.

Martini Cartwheels said...

Hi David - I went to a John Edward show last June. It was really amazing. What a great experience to have a loved one make contact like that.

katherine. said...

I meant to ask you which band your son plays with.

the John Edwards thing is interesting...even to a skeptic...smile.

FHB said...

I have a HUG amount of cynicism when it comes to these dudes, but that was cool.

*Goddess* said...

John Edwards used to be on television and very popular here, but I don't think he is anymore. We used to watch and I don't know if I believe or not.
Sometimes I have a hard time believing our deceased relatives are on the other side waiting for some medium to contact them, ya know?