Sunday, June 22, 2008

The Journey

This morning, I had the privilege of worshipping together with the family of brothers and sisters in Christ at Messiah Baptist Church in Wake Forest, North Carolina, where I am currently taking Biblical Hebrew in the summer session at Southeastern Seminary. My friend and fellow blogger Alan Knox spoke to us from Matthew 7:13-14, where Jesus talks about the need to enter through the narrow gate, and to walk along the narrow path. It was a great message, and both a challenge and a blessing to me.

Listening to the message, I was reminded of the lyrics to a song I wrote back when I was in college about 25 years ago. Back then, I used to write more poetry and songs. As of late, I have kind of settled more into essays, prose, and blog comments. Since I am not all that gifted of a musical performer, there are a lot of songs I have written that I have not shared with all that many people. And I probably won't make it a regular practice to post poetry or song lyrics here. But, since it's my blog, and I can post what I want, I thought I would post the lyrics to The Journey, just in case it might in some way be a challenge or a blessing to someone else.

The Journey (words and music by David Rogers)

I’ve been many people in the few short years I’ve lived my life;
I’ve lied, I’ve tried to cover up the weakness and the hurt inside.
I’ve played the game so long, I’m sick and tired of hanging on
to the gilded expectations of my peers.

I’m leaving on a journey, and I’m never coming back again;
I don’t know where I’m going, but it’s nowhere where I’ve ever been before.
And I will give my all, and I’m taking nothing with me
but some memories of how it used to be.

For many are the snares of youth,
And age just binds the blindness
Of the wrong paths taken once
When we were free into our minds.


And narrow is the path of truth,
And few are those who find the way,
While there’s a chance,
I’ll leave the show behind.


Now I’ve made up my mind to go, there’s nothing you could do to change it;
And I don’t want to leave alone, but I will anyway,
Unless you feel the way I do, and if you really wanted to,
we could take this journey travelling together.

For many are the snares of youth,
And age just binds the blindness
Of the wrong paths taken once
When we were free into our minds.


And narrow is the path of truth,
And few are those who find the way,
While there’s a chance,
Let’s leave the show behind.

7 comments:

Alan Knox said...

David,

It has been a real pleasure to get to know you better - to have you as part of our family for a few weeks. Thank you for sharing this song with us. It was very challenging to me, especially this line: "While there’s a chance,
I’ll leave the show behind."

-Alan

Anonymous said...

Mi Hermano,

I would love to see the song rewritten with lyrics that reflect your actual feelings at this stage of life. Now with many more miles of life is the song different, how has it changed?

Gracias,
Manuel Sosa

David Rogers said...

Alan,

The pleasure has been mine. Having you, your family, and your church family, nearby during these weeks has been a true blessing. It is so good to have family around, even when your family is not around.

David Rogers said...

Manuel,

Interesting question. Actually, when I was thinking about this post, I was asking myself something very similar, and the words to another song came to mind. It is "Look Me in the Eye" by Margaret Becker, which is a song that has always meant a lot to me ever since I first heard it a number of years ago. I think if I re-wrote "The Journey," it would probably reflect something of the idea expressed in "Look Me in the Eye." That is to say, I would hope to return, in many ways, to the same way I felt that inspired me to write that song, before the "hard knocks" of life had jaded me a bit, and made me a bit less idealistic.

Que Dios te bendiga.

Here are the lyrics:

"Look Me in the Eye" by Margaret Becker

I found a letter I wrote to you
In the bottom of the drawer
Simple words, simple point of view
That I don't have much anymore
It said "I don't want fortune
I don't want fame
I only want the treasure
That time can't take away"

Look me in the eye
Tell me if you see
Traces of yourself
Growing here in me
Tell me if you find
Your heart in mine
I pray you'll see your light
When you look me in the eye

Many years have come and gone
Since I wrote that page
And somehow with the passing time
I've let that truth slip away
Dear Lord remind me
Each and every day that your
Holiness, your Godliness
Is all that will remain

Look me in the eye
Tell me if you see
Traces of yourself
Growing here in me
Tell me if you find
Your heart in mine
I pray you'll see your light
When you look me in the eye

Now I see you
Much too dimly
But someday we'll be
Eye to eye
When I see you
I want to hear you say
That you were proud of my life
Lord touch my heart
Center my soul
Till all I do
Is for You alone

Anonymous said...

David,

Thank you for sharing this post and your reflection in Songs. How very true of all of us.
Dr Charles Stanley Had a Great Sermon today and I would recommend all would listen to it on the Internet at Intouch Ministries. It was on the Perfect Prayer as in Colossians 1: 1-12.

David, We must obey, following God’s leading even to difficult people and places.

More food for thought here”

http://wesmith.wordpress.com/

You and Your Family will always be in my Prayers.

Wayne Smith

David Rogers said...

Wayne,

Thanks for the encouragement and for your prayers.

Anonymous said...

David,
Thanks for both songs....
Shalom..... La Shannah Tovah....

barrett