lenten journal: how can I keep from singing
April 2
Today has been a day much like any other day. It’s a little hard to keep track. One of the things that makes Thursdays different around here is they are the new Sunday--at least, that is when we do the recording for Sunday’s service. Over the past couple of weeks, I have recorded some songs for worship services to be named later. Some of them are already on Facebook, but tonight I feel like singing. So I offer to you some of what I have sung in church, going back before the virus until now in hopes that the words and music may offer some comfort and companionship.
The first song is a Pierce Pettis cover, “Family.” I sang it in church about three years ago.
can you fix this its a broken heart it was fine then it just fell apart it was mine but now I give it to you ‘cause you can fix it you know what to do
let your love cover me like a pair of angel wings you are my family you are my family
David Wilcox’s song “Show the Way” has been a personal anthem of mine for many years because of these words:
look--if someone wrote a play to just to glorify what's stronger than hate would they not arrange the stage to look as if the hero came too late? he's almost in defeat it's looking like the evil side will when so on the edge of every seat from the moment that the whole thing begins
it is love who mixed the mortar and it's love who stacked these stones and it's love who made the stage here although it looks like we're alone in this scene, set in shadows, like the night is here to stay there is evil cast around us but it's love that wrote the play for in this darkness love can show the way
One of my favorite songs is Stephen Foster’s “Hard Times Come Again No More.” One of the college students at church is a wonderful violinist, so we took our shot at it together.
let us pause in life's pleasures and count its many tears while we all sup sorrow with the poor there's a song that will linger forever in our ears oh, hard times, come again no more
’tis the song, the sigh of the weary hard times, hard times, come again no more many days you have lingered all around my cabin door oh, hard times, come again no more
What started out as a song for youth camp about thirty years ago has become a connection with all kinds of folks over the years. This is one I wrote with my friend, Billy Crockett. It is called “Traveling Mercies.”
and for the weary and for the hopeless and for the faithful here is my prayer
go in peace live in grace trust in the arms that will hold you go in peace live in grace trust God’s love
One night I was putting songs together for an open mic in Durham and realized REM’s “Everybody Hurts” fit with “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior.” Both songs have been hymns for me for a long time.
when your day is long and the night is yours alone when you're sure you've had enough Of this life well hang on don't let yourself go ‘cause everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes
o, pass me not, o gentle savior hear my humble cry while on others thou art calling do not pass me by
The last song for tonight is one that has moved my heart for many years. I love to sing this song.
why should I feel discouraged why should the shadows come why should my heart feel lonesome and long for heaven and home when Jesus is my portion my constant friend is he his eye is on the sparrow and I know he watches me
I sing because I’m happy I sing because I’m free his eye is on the sparrow and I know he watches me
My life goes on in endless song . . .
Peace,
Milton
