I pulled into Nazareth, was feelin' about half past dead.....
I pulled into Nazareth, was feelin' about half past dead…
Wow! Thirty shares and counting on my Facebook post last night of an amazing global rendition of The Band song “The Weight”. How about the six million views of Rolling Stone’s post of this incredible video? If I had known how popular it was, I would have attached a quick blog to my video post- after all it’s getting way more traffic than any blog or sermon I have written (thanks btw to a friend who pointed THAT out).
Hard days here still as we are all sheltering in place. Many are bored, too many are suffering and how many are bone-tired from work or worrying or both? Feeling half-dead indeed. Our prayers are continual for those in the thick of it and for those at the edges of it and wondering what is next. Prayers abound. Part of the gift of this song is that it looks like a prayer answered. All of these musicians, each in their own place, are given a way to participate and contribute to one song. Despite distance, isolation, cultural divides, borders and any other wall we erect, it feels like a large, vibrant, happy family all jamming and singing along. Different voices but one song; different countries but all in the same key. It’s glorious and joyful and can show us what is possible by working and singing together even if for a while we are apart.
It’s a little fanciful but I’m thinking right now about what your life is like as a song. Your beautiful, messy life has lyrics as familiar and mysterious as they are in “The Weight” and the tune is just so, so good. Who’s helping you sing it? If we could make a video like this one, how many countries and how many friends would we invite to sing a verse and drop a hook? Who would love to come alongside and sing a few bars with you because they love the song and it (your life) has just meant so much to them? As much as your life is entirely your own, it’s best sung with so many others joining in. So go and take a load off Fanny and put the load right on me. We are after all, always, in this together.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39
The link to the song I’m talking about is below, and I hope you find some time to watch this incredible production. It took two years, spans ten countries and has both familiar and new voices for you to hear. The idea began with Robbie Robertson’s son recording his famous Canadian dad playing that beloved song for an hour. Cue next the organization Playing for Change https://playingforchange.com and the 1968 classic has become a phenomenon again as musicians all over the world join a global sing along. You can follow more links from the video to hear how the production unfolded.
What a wonderful message and such a great rendition. Thanks for sharing.
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