I know I blogged about this song and video just one week ago, but I believe it deserves another mention today. I borrowed from its title, and, now, my friends, I would like to pontificate on its subject matter. If you didn't before, WATCH it now. See the pain in Sara's eyes as she sings this well-wishing song over a suffering friend.
Sometimes, I imagine she sings for Chris Thile, former Nickel Creek band mate, who married, divorced and now seems to be experiencing a bit of crisis of faith as a result. I imagine that as his heart has been ravaged by life's knocks, Sara's own heart has broken to watch it happen.
Do you see the genuine concern deep set in her gaze as she sings? Do you hear the compassion in her sweet sound? She loves her friend and is burdened by what weighs him down. I think each time she utters the words to this song, she prays for his safe return to peace.
My own angelic-voiced roommate often writes songs over other people. Months ago, she labored over a song for her sister, who was at the time, experiencing a spell of loneliness. In her wisdom, Abby said something about the comfort we're able to bring to people when we don't try and bring them into the light, but rather, just offer to sit with them in the dark.
Whoah.
We can hope and wish and pray for our friends. We can sing beautiful hymns of healing over their lives, but we cannot change them. We can care and love them well, but we cannot fix, we cannot decide, we cannot live for them.
But, we can sit with them in the dark, walk away and sing for hope to their hearts, relief to their minds.
1 comment:
Ashley Johnson gave me a book a couple of months ago called "I Like You." It's a silly little book, but so dear. When she gave it to me, she pointed out a page that contained words, though childish in tone, that somewhat reflect the theme of your post.
"And I like you because
When I am feeling sad
You don't always cheer me up right away
Sometimes it is better to be sad
You can't stand the others being so googly and gaggly every single minute
You want to think about things.
It takes time."
It's good to have people to sit in the darkness with. Whether it be the inevitable self-imposed darkness that happens to all of us at some point, or the darkness from outside that sometimes settles in all around us.
Thanks for this post.
(I miss me some Nickel Creek.)
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