2022 – Week 20 – A Very Short Dash

It was probably appropriate that while reading Scroll V in The Greatest Salesman, and coming off Week 20 of The Master Key System that word came of a death.

My husband and I enjoy watching “America’s Got Talent” which airs in the summer in the US. They have different acts audition in front of a panel of four judges and are dismissed or advance – as any “reality” talent show does.

Summer of 2021 we were very touched by the performance of a young women whose “stage” name is Nightbirde. Her audition was very powerful – in fact, she earned the coveted “Golden Buzzer” from Judge Simon Cowell.

She was only 30 years old, but has been battling Stage IV breast cancer. At her audition, she revealed that she has metastatic disease in her lungs, spine, and liver. Apparently she was first diagnosed in 2017, and so had been living with this from such a young age.

Her audition video shows her singing her original song titled, “It’s Okay.” She described it as a song about the past year of her life.

It’s Ok

I moved to California in the summer time
I changed my name thinking that it would change my mind
I thought that all my problems they would stay behind
I was a stick of dynamite and it was just a matter of time, yeah All day, all night, now I can’t hide
Said I knew myself but I guess I lied It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay
If you’re lost, we’re all a little lost and it’s alright

It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay
If you’re lost, we’re all a little lost and it’s alrightIt’s alright, it’s alright, it’s alright, it’s alright

I wrote a hundred pages but I burned them all
(Yeah, I burned them all)
I drove through yellow lights and don’t look back at all
I don’t look back at all
Yeah, you can call me reckless, I’m a cannonball (uh, I’m a cannonball)
Don’t know why I take the tightrope and cry when I fall – All day, all night, now I can’t hide
Said I knew what I wanted but I guess I lied

It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay
If you’re lost, we’re all a little lost and it’s alright
It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay
If you’re lost, we’re all a little lost and it’s alright – It’s alright, it’s alright, it’s alright, it’s alright
It’s alright, it’s alright, it’s alright, it’s alright Oh-oh-oh-oh, it’s alright
Oh-oh-oh-oh, it’s alright
Oh-oh-oh-oh, it’s alright
Oh-oh-oh-oh, it’s alright
To be lost sometimes, It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay
If you’re lost, we’re all a little lost and it’s alright
It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay
If you’re lost, we’re all a little lost and it’s alright – It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay
If you’re lost, we’re all a little lost and it’s alright
It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay
If you’re lost, we’re all a little lost and it’s alright – It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay
If you’re lost, we’re all a little lost and it’s alright

I think not just her relatives and friends lost someone precious when she died but I think the world lost, too. I’ve learned way more about her since her death because of all that’s been written about her. She lived a lot in her dash, and it seems she lived for others, as well as to the glory of the Lord.

While there are many on-line tributes to her, they mostly focus on who she was in the entertainment world. I was happy to find the following at nbc4icom written by her family. It shows more of who she really is, and what motivated her life:

Jane Kristen Marczewski

“Jane Kristen Marczewski, age 31, also known as Nightbirde, of Nashport OH, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on February 19, 2022 after a four-year battle with cancer. She most recently resided in San Clemente CA with her brother Andrew.

She was born December 29, 1990 in Zanesville OH to Mitchell and Sharon Marczewski. She is survived by siblings Mitchell Jr (Brook); Andrew and Katelyn Marczewski; grandparents Richard and Elizabeth Rumora; Uncle Keith and Aunt Sheryl Ross; Nephews Mitchell III and Jude Marczewski; niece Magnolia Marczewski and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

She was a 2009 graduate of Licking County Christian Academy and a 2013 graduate of Liberty University in Lynchburg VA with a marketing degree. 

Many remember her as the winner of Simon Cowell’s Golder Buzzer on America’s Got Talent in 2021 with the hit song It’s OK which charted No. 1 on iTunes and charted on Billboard. Her other top songs include New Year’s Eve, Girl in a Bubble and Brave.

Before she became Nightbirde, she dedicated her high school years volunteering with the youth ministry at Cornerstone Church in Licking County OH. She also spent many nights and weekends leading worship at Christian events throughout Ohio. It was during this time when she cultivated her love for music and ministry.

During college she continued her love for music by becoming a prolific songwriter and performer. When she was not writing or singing, she shared Jesus with underprivileged youngsters in her neighborhood while providing them snacks after school.

When she resided in Nashville TN, she was involved at The Belonging Church leading worship and participating as a youth camp counselor. She also enjoyed sharing Christ with the women at the Davidson County Jail. Many now know the Lord because of her evangelism and commitment to Christ.

Those who knew her enjoyed her larger-than-life personality and sense of humor. She had a witty joke for every occasion—even if the joke was on her.

Her lasting legacy will be the gift of hope she communicated through music and the strength she found in Jesus.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held Friday March 4, 2022 at 7:00 PM at Cornerstone Church of Licking County, 4905 Jacksontown Rd, Heath OH 43056.

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to donate to The Nightbirde Foundation online at https://www.gofundme.com/f/nightbirde-memorial-fund.”

I have always thought that the two most powerful words anyone can say is, “I decided.” Apparently Jane decided at a very young age that she was going to follow her heart with her head up and her eyes on the Lord. We can all learn much from this young woman. Rest In Peace, dear one.