I’m intrigued by the similarities of the seasons of Advent and Lent. Both are a time of waiting; a time of anticipation; a time of reflection; a time of slowing down. All of these (and more) certainly apply to this moment in time as we "wait" for the pandemic to end, "anticipate" being able to gather together again, "reflect" on the personal and corporate losses experienced through this past year, and "slow down" — whether we like it or not.
In 2006, Shirley Erena Murray sent a poem to me moments after writing it. She included a personal note which referred to it as “a meditation intended to slow me down”. It is titled “Simply to Be”. In recent months I’ve called on those words to feed my spirit, to ease anxiety and to give thanks for all those who are part of my life and with whom I am unable to be physically present.
I’m reminded of a conversation I had with a physician friend. I asked him if his work ever took him 'down', given the possibility of it being a constant reminder of his own mortality. There was a significantly lengthy pause before he replied, "No, I’m just grateful to be."
We didn’t include "Simply to Be" in the music suggestions for Lent because we could have recommended it for every week; indeed, for any time or season. Throughout Lent, there are many ways it could be used as a continuity piece each week:
- It could serve as a reflective preface to worship.
- It could provide an opening and/or closing to prayer.
- It could serve as a reflective benediction.
- It could be broken up, singing one verse at a time at the same appropriate moments in the service each week.
- In addition to singing it, the melody could be played as bridging music between elements of the service providing additional thematic linkage.
Consider visiting the song page ("Simply to Be") to listen to the music sample of the first verse sung by my friend, David Moddle. In the ’normal' times of being together each week which we miss so much, David normally "has my back" playing bass or guitar or flute, but always singing. The Tune Name for this calming song is LAURIE, dedicated to Bill Laurie, another friend. Bill has led and guided many to a sense of inner peace through contemplative prayer and meditation.
RK
Simply to be, to be in stillness,
simply to trust that God is here,
simply to know the Holy Presence,
is to be blessed:
so am I blessed,
simply to hold the given moment,
simply to lay concern aside,
simply to let the heart be speaking,
is to be blessed:
so am I blessed,
so am I blessed within God’s keeping,
so am I freed from pointless stress,
steadied to feel the soul replenished,
given this grace,
folded in peace.
Words by Shirley Erena Murray
Copyright © 2006 by Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, Illinois • USA
