A moving song
As I've mentioned here previously, I've found certain songs helpful in this journey. I've already posted a couple of songs that I find inspiring, that to me speak to the nature of this process. I've also used songs simply to move me, to stir feelings from which I might otherwise be a bit out of touch. I did this more regularly a few months back to try to better open my heart prior to dedicated sessions with the “other.” These days I don't seem to need it quite as much as I seem more readily to well up with tears in response to fairly mild things. Since I am lately experiencing more feelings in my heart, I will probably soon go back to listening to some moving songs to see what heart feelings they may be stirring.
I keep a small list of songs that, for one reason or another, I find particularly moving. One that I've had on that list from the start is “Guadalupe,” written by Tom Russell, performed by Gretchen Peters, a gorgeous song about Our Lady of Guadalupe.
More recently I came upon and another Peters/Russell collaboration, the song “Saint Francis.” For me it is perhaps even more moving. And it has a little added meaning here owing to JWH's comments about St. Francis in Stuck on Pause.
(By the way, please don't conclude I am in any way pushing Christianity. I'm not Christian. Not at all. But I find some images and ideas in some of the more ancient strains of Christianity to be helpful.)
See if this song stirs feelings for you, perhaps feelings in your heart! Oh... and have a tissue handy.
Lyrics
written by: (Gretchen Peters/Tom Russell)
Saint Francis walking on the water All his lambs have gone to slaughter All the creatures who receive his grace You can see them all in his haggard face
Saint Francis begging at your doorway You want to let him in but what will the neighbors say And you know you can't go on but you can't give up And he answers you with his begging cup
Saint Francis sitting at your table A cup of tea among the faithful Behind a wall that's made of little lies Much to your surprise you start to cry
By these wounds you will be whole again By these signs you will know You'll feel a stirring in your soul again 'Til sweet amnesia takes a hold
Saint Francis sleeping in the meadow His halo is a raven's shadow He's been sleeping for 800 years In a potter's field full of sparrows' tears And while we sleep and dream of heaven's gates Down here on earth the old man waits