A Favorite Song for the Season...

Know the Meaning of the Song

From my file of writings over the past year...

"I learned a hard lesson this past week. Through the years of my "singing career" (loL!) I don't think I have ever sung a song of which I didn't understand the meaning. I am usually very careful about that, in fact, because I feel like music is as much a ministry as anything. If I don't know what I'm singing, how can I communicate the mood and temper of the song effectively?

Two Sundays ago, I was on the schedule for singing. I had actually been asked to sing as a pinch hitter for someone else the previous Sunday night. But when I went to the church basement to jot down the words and find the right key to an oldie, I got through the first two lines and was swept up in a gale of tears. Too many memories of my parents attached to those old songs. I couldn't do it.

Knowing that I was on the roster for next week, I determined that I would have to learn a completely new song with no sentimental ties. I'd heard a song by Ivan Parker on Tony's MP3 player that seemed like a really great one for Sunday morning worship. I brought it up on Rhapsody, printed off the words and began to learn it. All week long, I practiced. It had a lovely tune and a few unexpected chords. It was exactly what I was looking for.

Saturday night, I took the lyrics in and showed Tony. "What exactly does this mean?" I asked. He must have been engrossed in work because I don't remember him giving me a clear answer. So, making sure I wasn't singing something TOTALLY off the wall, I went and consulted a few versions of the Bible. It sounded okay and seemed to have some great phrases of encouragement.

Sunday morning came. I was very shocked and nervous to find out 5 or 10 minutes pre-special that Garren Wolfe was in the congregation! But the Lord calmed my nerves and I was able to proceed. I prefaced the song with a quote and some admonition and when it was over I felt like the special went well.

Fast forward this story six days. We get a call that shakes our world and dumps it upside down in 30 seconds flat. That night, still reeling from the news of the day, we went to town to get some groceries to make it through the weekend. On the way home I turn on the MP3 player and the song that I sang the previous Sunday morning came on. I sat and listened. Would you believe the exact meaning and words of that song came to life? It was like a light had been turned on and I could see clearly what the song writer was trying to say.

I Will Lead The Blind
sung by Ivan Parker
(from the CD: UNDER GRACE)
Verse 1:I had lost my way, I was stumbling in the dark
My joy was gone, and misery set in
I cried out to the Lord, I can’t make it on my own
That is when I heard these words from Him
He said...

Chorus:I will lead the blind
by ways they have not known
Along unfamiliar paths, I will guide them
I will turn the darkness into light before them
And make the rough places smooth
These are the things that I will do

Verse 2: So when your days are dark
and you don’t know where to turn
And you feel your night of sorrow never ends
There is one who loves you
no matter what you’ve done
He’s given you this promise, He’s your friend
He said...

Chorus:I will lead the blind
by ways they have not known
Along unfamiliar paths, I will guide them
I will turn the darkness into light before them
And make the rough places smooth
These are the things that I will do


Prior to this revelation I'd understood enough to get the basic meaning of this song. After all, I've had recent days of darkness and uncertainty. And I know that God has promised to be my guide through all my journeys in life. On those days, for the most part, I'd been able to share my pain and sorrow with someone else who'd walked that road ahead of me. But on this particular night when we were at the end of ourselves, could turn to no one and felt utterly and completely helpless, the words of the chorus came to life. I had not gone down this path before. I didn't personally know anyone else who had. Everything looked dark and scary. The road seemed incredibly rough and difficult. But as I sat and soaked in the words of the song, I found out I have God's promise - that He will lead me when I can't see the next step; He will guide me through the fog of uncertainity; He will kick the rocks and stones out of my way lest I stumble. As long as I cling to His hand, He is there to help me. And with Christ, I can do all things. How sweet to rest in Him!"

Lesson learned? Don't sing a song you don't know the meaning of - or be prepared to find out.