Mar
21
2019
The Song
Posted in Worship 4 Comments
I was in the mood to listen to my James Taylor radio station.
I like that station because so many songs from my high school and college years are played.
I am certain that I will know every one.
I can sing along, sometimes out loud, sometimes in my head.
I was enjoying every song that was randomly played.
Isn’t it funny how some songs will bring you right back to a particular time and place?
It is easy to remember what you were doing.
The song actually transports you to a remember when time.
The song came on the radio and I was sixteen again.
I was wearing a yellow prom gown with a handkerchief hemline.
I had white sandals with a slight heel.
I was wearing a wrist corsage.
I was in the high school gym.
It was decorated so as not to know you were actually dancing in a gym.
I was on the Junior Prom Committee.
I remember the day we decorated.
It is difficult to hide bleachers.
It is next to impossible to camouflage basketball nets.
There is not much you can do about a hardwood floor with painted lines.
Somehow, our job was to make this place as nice as we possibly could.
I remember the long tables with white paper tablecloths.
I remember some sort of food.
It was not dinner; that would have to wait until our Senior prom.
It was easy to forget we were in a gym because the event was one that we anticipated.
He picked my up in his father’s car, this high school boy who would be my husband.
He came up to the door with the wrist corsage in a see through box.
It was the year after my mother died.
There were many people in the living room to see me off and take pictures.
I remember fumbling as I tried to put the boutonniere on his lapel.
That moment was captured in a picture.
We stood there awkwardly for pictures as the cameras flashed in front of us.
I remember him checking his suit coat pocket for our prom tickets.
We left the house with those who were there, standing at the front door.
It was such an innocent time.
Music was playing on the radio.
We talked all the way to our high school; if truth be told, I was the one talking.
The parking lot was crowded with cars.
We had 1,000 students in our graduating class.
There were 4,000 students in our high school.
The gym was the perfect place to accommodate the size of our class.
We all had to use the gym entrance.
The line was a bit backed up because we had to show our ID.
We saw some of our teachers; who, out of context, seemed a bit strange.
I looked around at everyone in their long dresses and suits; we cleaned up well.
We sat at the table with friends.
It was hard to hear the music over the din of voices.
The tables were on the sides of the gym.
The dance floor was in the center.
I remember being very eager to slow dance.
Dancing is fun when everyone is out there together on the dance floor.
But a slow dance…that is something special between you and your date.
The music was fast and upbeat and many were already on the dance floor.
A slow song was played.
I remember his hand reaching out to mine.
I remember walking to the dance floor.
I remember my arm on his shoulder and the wrist corsage dangling.
I made a mental note to remember the song.
You had to remember the song to which you first slow danced.
That song immediately became your song.
I listened and seared the song in my memory.
If a picture paints a thousand words, then why can’t I paint you?
The words will never show, the you I’ve come to know.
If a face could launch a thousand ships, then where am I to go?
there’s no one home but you, You’re all that’s left me too.
And when, my love, for life is running dry,
you come, and pour, yourself, on me.
If a man could be two places at one time I’d be with you.
tomorrow and today, beside you all the way.
If the world should stop revolving spinning slowly down to die,
I’d spend the end with you, and when the world was through,
Then one, by one, the stars would all go out
then you, and I, would simply fly away.
(IF, by Bread)
I remember thinking, this is our song.
It did not matter if the song pertained to you or not.
It became your song because it was the first one you slow danced to, together.
Every time the song came on the radio, I remembered.
This particular morning, our song came on the radio, forty-three years later.
I was still transported to the gym on that April night.
I was wearing my yellow prom gown with the handkerchief hemline.
My arm was on his shoulder and my wrist corsage was still dangling.
Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.” Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” (Revelation 4:8-11)
If God had His own song, this would be it.
The angels sang it.
The four living creatures in Revelation sing it as they covered their eyes in His presence.
We will sing it as well.
There is no other song that is more appropriate than this one.
Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.
It has been sung, it is sung, and it will be sung again.
We will sing this song as we dance into eternity with Him.
Oh Regina. I remember that night! What a memory.
I love the visual of laying crowns before the throne …
Cathy,
I was a wonderful night!
I love that we have shared memories, friend!
Regina
Oh the memories ! I also remember my first dance with my date, now husband of 48 years. The song was ‘Cherish’ by The Associations. The year 1965. We had known of each other since childhood. Such sweet memories, ones to cherish a lifetime.
Another thing we have in common, Linda!
Kindred spirits, indeed!
Gina