I WILL LIVE FOR SOMETHING GREATER THAN MYSELF
- Miles Patrick Yohnke
- 13 hours ago
- 6 min read
By Miles Patrick Yohnke
© 2025 All Rights Reserved.
It is time that we start loving one another, no matter of race, gender, national origin, religion, physical or mental disability. It is time that we stop all this discrimination. It is time that we build a place where we are all equal. It is time that we put down our firearms and open up our loving arms. I will live for something greater than myself.
July 14, 2025, marks ten years since the tragic death of fifteen-year-old Arthur Cave, the twin brother to Earl, and son to parents Susie and music icon Nick Cave. I remember that fateful day like it was this morning. I was notified and instructed in the wee hours of a moonless night to call friend, photographer, Nikolitsa Boutieros before she heard via social media channels. She was living in Santa Monica California when I called her at 5 a.m. Nikolitsa answered. The pitch of her wrenching cry - I will hear until I take my last final breath.
A lot has happened in the last three thousand, six hundred and fifty days. One reflects at the time. Then a little more time passes--and more reflection. I pondered writing a poem for the parents though it just didn't feel right at the time. More time passed. But in that time--there was a love and respect for all parties: Arthur. Earl. Susie. Nick. Nikolitsa. Nikolitsa had photographed Arthur and the family. And even though time and years had passed she didn't want them to be viewed by the public for her deep respect and love for the Cave family.
That kind of love and respect she has shown from the start--in that sorrowful cry. And that is gained in time of loss. I've admired Nikolitsa for that sensitivity--that unwavering commitment in what she believes is right for the spirit of Arthur Cave--and the Cave family.
I was deeply worried at the time of the physical ending of Arthur what would become of his father, Nick. Would he relapse into hard drugs? How would this play out?
I didn't foresee myself writing an official article until recently. God directed me. Like God has had a hand in everything. God is the official filer. God took my own father when I was just five and six days old. And it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me. And the loss of Arthur has become the best thing for the life of Nick Cave.
In September of 2018, Nick started 'The Red Hand Files' where fans can ask Nick questions and Nick answers them. And it has been this that I've seen Nick shoot up. Where I've seen him transform, vibrate, glow and fly.
I will live for something greater than myself. It was the loss of his dear son, Arthur, to really show Nick what was truly important in life - where you end is where I begin.
Nick Cave truly began his life on July 14, 2015. Nick has helped thousands, if not millions of people through 'The Red Hand Files.' I couldn't be prouder of him. The one I'm proudest of most is issue #160/July 2021: https://www.theredhandfiles.com/stagger-me/
Dear Michelle,
Time to give up the booze — you know it, you need to. It's frightening now, I know, but I can only say this, life is better without it. Impossibly better. It's difficult to understand right now, it's frightening right now, I know, but without the drink life is better. Just remember that. You'll see. You'll be better. You'll see. Life is good. You'll see. Life is good. Life is good. Life is good.
Prepare to be amazed.
Love, Nick x
This article is as much about you, the reader - as it is about Arthur, Nick, and the Cave family. God is a storyteller, and human beings are storytellers because we are made in His image. God is the gracious narrator of the most excellent story ever told. Arthur Cave's life has become a story within a story. Arthur has become a vehicle to show us to rise up - to be greater than oneself.
In the fall of 2012, Nikolitsa Boutieros reached out to me for help. I share a testimonial from her that she sent me on October 24, 2012. I share it as it is universal - it has a powerful message; it too is a vehicle to show us how to naturally fly.
Miles,
I was in the shower and a dream I had a few days ago reflected itself again in my mind. I dreamt of you! I was in Canada. I decided to walk to my cousins' house in the suburbs of Montréal. I knew it was a long way, and I really wasn't that sure of all the details of how to get there either. But I'm a trooper I like to search and find my way through the adventures of the unknown. I think I was going to take a cab, but I ended up meeting a bicyclist (which I think was you) I rode with the
bicyclist as if it was a taxi. I noticed we were taking a lot of strange back roads. I was curious but not worried. Then we got to this area somewhat abandoned, with factory buildings and the water down below. Maybe it was a bay. It was steady water. You went down from the foundation and hung on the side of the beam with the water beneath you. You gestured for me to jump, and you'd catch me. I thought for a split second and jumped. Then all of a sudden, we were back on the edge of the platform, and I made this loud primal wild scream as this white light burst through me and covering me like a thin white illuminating cloth.
I know you are an answer to one of my prayers. I'm yearning to bring forth this world inside me to this earth. I want to be much more fearless in my dreaming and writing stories. To talk and sing, create and allow without holding mommies hand or shackled to doubt's chambers. Fearless in my love. I feel slightly stuck, but I do feel stronger and hopeful that my love, dreams, visions and words will come bursting through just like Mr. Cave and you, my two favorite artists. You are helping me to surrender ... I think the dream signifies its already in the works.
- Nikolitsa Boutieros
I include Nikolitsa's testimonial to me as we all have to surrender. To trust in God. To take that giant leap. When you hear someone say 'private.' What they are really saying is I'm avoiding my deep personal issues. I want it to remain 'private.' God sees everything. God knows everything. There is an awakening in that. A freedom. Embrace it. Release that 'private' within you. You'll truly fly if you do. You'll fly like Nick Cave has shown and done.
Prepare to be amazed.
I stated that the physical death of my father was the best thing that happened to me. I now knew death intimately. It taught me that tomorrow isn't promised to anyone. That all we have is today. And who we are going to help today. You become fearless and selfless. His loss was my gain. It's in our approach. On how to handle great loss. Will it be negative? Will it be channeled to the positive? Nick Cave made a choice. A choice to see the positive in the physical loss of his beloved son, Arthur.
But Arthur lives on within his father, by the selfless actions that makes him shine bright in selflessly helping others. Nick Cave doesn't receive money for the endless time thinking about what he'll write in 'The Red Hand Files.' Nick has built-up an enormous amount of life experiences--and with the help of God he has sorted out his brain to be greater than himself. When you think about Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa you don't think about the size of their home or the vehicle they drove. It wasn't about their possessions. It was about their principals: how they had risen up to help others. Possessions don't define you. How you were there and selflessly helped others is how you'll be remembered. It isn't about you--it is about them - I will live for something greater than myself.
Where you end is where I begin. Arthur may be physically gone. But he is present. Present in his twin brother, Earl. In his mother, Susie. In his father, Nick. And, in ways, he is in me, he is in you. For we are all children of God. We are all sisters and brothers. We are all one people. It is time that we start loving one another, no matter of race, gender, national origin, religion, physical or mental disability. It is time that we stop all this discrimination. It is time that we build a place where we are all equal. It is time that we put down our firearms and open up our loving arms. It is time we show all strangers kindness. It is time to walk hand in hand until dust to dust - I will live for something greater than myself!
In Loving Memory of Arthur Cave (June 23, 2000 - July 14, 2015)
In 2014, before the physical departure of Arthur Cave - I wrote a two-minute poem titled: "To Los Angeles" for Nikolitsa Boutieros, Susie and Nick Cave. Please read it here: https://salmonstudio.wixsite.com/yohnke/post/to-los-angeles
I've included other material that helps in sorting out the brain:
Alcohol Conformity:
Legalizing Healthy Living:
I Am Worthy:
Defensiveness (a one-minute read):
Why (a one-minute read):
For more on Nick Cave, please click here: https://www.nickcave.com/
For more on Nikolitsa Boutieros, please click here: http://www.divinelightphotography.net
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