Walter Brueggemann talks about the way that the Christian life can be summed up in two words – Gift and Task.
This post is definitely gift. I’ve been trying to write this song for a couple of weeks. I had the phrase ‘circle of grace’ that popped up in something I read, and I already had the words ‘where the lost can be found, and the bound can be freed.’
It took some time to realise what the song needed to be – two halves with something linking between the two. It seems that songs have a life of their own, and part of the craft of songwriting is to help bring that song to life. Was it Michaelangelo who described the work of a sculptor as bringing out the figure that is already there in the stone. Just removing the stone that is not part of the figure …
Anyway, here it is. Lyrics below and rough recording on BandCamp. Circle of Grace
Where the lost can be found
And the bound can be freed
There’s a far away place
That’s calling to me
Where the hungry are fed
And the dead can be raisedq
There’s a far away place
That’s calling to me
It’s not status
or money or looks
or keeping the rules
Empty handed
we come to this kingdom of fools
It’s not knowledge
or image
or power that’s the key
There’s a circle of grace
that’s setting us free
Where the broken are healed
and the least will be lifted on high
There’s a circle of grace
That’s where you’ll find me
Where the last will be first
and the thirsty be filled
There’s a circle of grace
That’s where you’ll find me.
Jonathan Evans. Copyright 2021.
Grace and peace to you.
Five Short Words 