The Birth of a Song

'Precious Lord'

Back in 1932, I was 32 years old and a fairly new husband. My wife, Nettie and I were living in a little apartment on Chicago's south side. One hot August afternoon I had to go to St. Louis, where I was to be the featured soloist at a large revival meeting. I didn't want to go. Nettie was in the last month of pregnancy with our first child. But a lot of people were expecting me in St. Louis. I kissed Nettie good-bye, clattered downstairs to our Model A and, in a fresh Lake Michigan breeze, chugged out of Chicago on Route 66.

However, outside the city, I discovered that in my anxiety at leaving, I had forgotten my music case. I wheeled around and headed back. I found Nettie sleeping peace-fully. I hesitated by her bed; something was strongly telling me to stay. But eager to get on my way, and not wanting to disturb Nettie, I shrugged off the feeling and quietly slipped out of the room with my music.

The next night, in the steaming St. Louis heat, the crowd called on me to sing again and again. When I finally sat down, a messenger boy ran up with a Western Union telegram. I ripped open the envelope. Pasted on the yellow sheet were the words: YOUR WIFE JUST DIED.

People were happily singing and clapping around me, but I could hardly keep from crying out. I rushed to a phone and called home. All I could hear on the other end was 'Nettie is dead. Nettie is dead.' When I got back, I learned that Nettie had given birth to a boy. I swung between grief and joy. Yet that same night, the baby died. I buried Nettie and our little boy together, in the same casket. Then I fell apart.

For days I closeted myself. I felt that God had done me an injustice. I didn't want to serve Him anymore or write gospel songs. I just wanted to go back to that jazz world I once knew so well. But then, as I hunched alone in that dark apartment those first sad days, I thought back to the afternoon I went to St. Louis. Something kept telling me to stay with Nettie. Was that something God? Oh, if I had paid more attention to Him that day, I would have stayed and been with Nettie when she died.

From that moment on I vowed to listen more closely to Him. But still I was lost in grief. Everyone was kind to me, especially one friend. The following Saturday evening he took me up to Malone's Poro College, a neighborhood music school. It was quiet; the late evening sun crept through then curtained windows. I sat down at the piano, and my hands began to browse over the keys. Something happened to me then. I felt at peace. I felt as though I could reach out and touch God. I found myself playing a melody, once into my head they just seemed to fall into place: 'Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on let me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn, through the storm, through the night lead me on to the light, take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.'

The Lord gave me these words and melody, He also healed my spirit. I learned that when we are in our deepest grief, when we feel farthest from God, this is when He is closest, and when we are most open to His restoring power.

And so I go on living for God willingly and joyfully, until that day comes when He will take me and gently lead me home.

- Tommy Dorsey -

"There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that the three things we crave
most in life -- happiness, freedom, and peace of mind -- are always attained
by giving them to someone else."   -- General Peyton C. March (1864-1955)

Thank You For Your Time

A young man learns what's most important in life from the guy next door.

It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.

Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.

"Jack, did you hear me?"

"Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said.

"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him.
"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.

"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said

"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important...Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.
As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.
The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time.

Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture....Jack stopped suddenly.

"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.

"The box is gone," he said.

"What box?" Mom asked.

"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most,'" Jack said.

It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.

"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."

It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read.

Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. "Mr. Harold Belser" it read. Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.

"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch.

Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved:  "Jack, Thanks for your time! -Harold Belser."

The thing he valued most was...my time.  Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.

"I need some time to spend with my son," he said.

"Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time!"

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away,"
Think about this. You may not realize it, but it's 100% true.

• At least 2 people in this world love you so much they would die for you.
• At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.
• A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.
• Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.
• You mean the world to someone.
• If not for you, someone may not be living.
• You are special and unique.
• When you think you have no chance of getting what you want, you probably won't get it, but if you trust God to do what's best, and wait on His time, sooner or later, you will get it or something better.
• When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good can still come from it.
• When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look: you most likely turned your back on the world.
• Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.
• Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.
• Always tell someone how you feel about him or her; you will feel much better when they know and you'll both be happy.
• If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they are great.

”Thanks For Your Time”

The Beauty of Math...

Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow.
-- Swedish Proverb

THE SYMPTOMS OF INNER PEACE ^(TM)
by Saskia Davis, reprinted with permission of the author
(A note from the author follows today's reading.)

Be on the lookout for symptoms of inner peace. The hearts of a great
many have already been exposed to inner peace and it is possible that
people everywhere could come down with it in epidemic proportions.
This could pose a serious threat to what has, up to now, been a fairly
stable condition of conflict in the world.

Some signs and symptoms of inner peace:

* A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based
on past experiences.

* An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.

* A loss of interest in judging other people.

* A loss of interest in judging self.

* A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.

* A loss of interest in conflict.

* A loss of the ability to worry. (This is a very serious symptom.)

* Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.

* Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature.

* Frequent attacks of smiling.

* An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them
happen.

* An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well
as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.

WARNING: If you have some or all of the above symptoms, please be
advised that your condition of inner peace may be so far advanced as
to not be curable. If you are exposed to anyone exhibiting any of
these symptoms, remain exposed only at your own risk.

© 1984 Saskia Davis
(for permission to reprint, write <sweetamazinggrace@earthlink.net>)

--------------
A note from the author:

SYMPTOMS OF INNER PEACE was written from the state of being that it describes. In fact, when I wrote it, I was high on Love. Not romantic love, but the kind that confirms to us that we are connected to and supported by the Universe. It had been eight years since I had taken stock of my unsatisfying life and had committed myself to changing it from the inside - out. This had meant giving up "image-management-for- the-sake-of-social-acceptance" in favor of choices and relationships that were based on my real thoughts, feelings and desires as well as giving up fear-based choices in favor of faith and love-based choices.  The result was a passionate and satisfying life grounded in deep inner peace, the state from which SYMPTOMS OF INNER PEACE was written.

Since "SYMPTOMS" first was published, it has taken on a life of its own, making its way around the world via friends, newsletters, bulletin boards, books, radio, church groups, and, now, the internet where it can be found on hundreds, possibly thousands of sites which seem to be multiplying exponentially: a totally grassroots peace movement! Wow! What a rush!

Blessings,

Saskia
 

It's About Attitude

Read This  ~  Then Choose

John is the kind of guy you love to hate.  He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say.  When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!" 

He was a natural motivator.  If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.  Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and asked him, "I don't get it!

You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?"  He replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or ... you can choose to be in a bad mood.  I choose to be in a good mood."

Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or...I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it.  Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or... I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.

"Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested.  "Yes, it is," he said. "Life is all about choices.  When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice.  You choose how you react to situations.  You choose how people affect your mood.   You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood.  The bottom line: It's your choice how you live your life."   I reflected on what he said.  Soon hereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business.  We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower.  After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back.  I saw him about six months after the accident.  When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins...Wanna see my scars?"

I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place. 

"The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be born daughter," he replied.  "Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or...I could choose to die. I chose to live."

"Weren't you scared?  Did you lose consciousness?"  I asked.  He continued, "the paramedics were great.  They kept telling me I was going to be fine.  But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read "he's a dead man" I knew I needed to take action."  

"What did you do?" I asked.  "Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me," said John. "She asked if I was allergic to anything 'Yes, I replied!'  The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, "Gravity."

Over their laughter, I told them, "I am choosing to live.  Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead."  He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude... I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.

Attitude, after all, is everything.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34.

Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.

Quotes

“The quieter you become, the more you can hear.”  -- Ram Dass

“Never answer an angry word with an angry word.  It’s the second one that makes the quarrel.”  -- W. A. Nance

“We will either find a way or make one.”  -- Hannibal

“Success in marriage is more than finding the right person.  Being the right person is more important.”  -- Elof Nelson

“An open mind is like an open window.  It lets the fresh air in.”  -- Mike Hernacki

“What is the essence of America?  Finding and maintaining that perfect, delicate balance between freedom ‘to’ and freedom ‘from.’ ”  -- Marilyn Vos Savant

“Sometimes opportunity knocks, but most of the time it sneaks up and then quietly steals away.”  -- Doug Larson

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”  -- William Butler Yeats

“The chief danger in life is that you may take too many precautions.”  -- Alfred Adler

“Statistics are no substitute for judgment.”  -- Unknown source

“It is the loose ends with which men hang themselves.”  -- Zelda Fitzgerald

"If you want to catch beasts you don't see everyday,
you have to go places quite out-of-the-way.
You have to go places no others can get to.
You have to get cold, and you have to get wet, too."

-- Dr. Seuss

“Everything looks impossible for the people who never try anything.”  -- Jean-Louis Etienne

“A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.”  -- Jean De La Fontaine

“Self-restraint is feeling your oats without sowing them.”  -- James Dinnegan

“The wise person questions himself; the fool others.”  -- Henri Arnold

“Forget the past.  No one becomes successful in the past.”  -- Richard Bell

"Some things have to be believed to be seen."  -- Ralph Hodgson

"I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars."  -- Og Mandino

Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!"  -- Robin Williams

"You will either step forward into growth or you will step back into safety."  -- Abraham Maslow

“Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant?”  -- Henry David Thoreau

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors --we borrow it from our children.  -- Native American proverb

“Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.”  -- Helen Keller

“Soft words are hard arguments.”  -- Thomas Fuller

Truth is not determined by the volume of the voice.  --Chinese Proverb

"If God seems far away, guess who moved." -- Dinner with a Perfect Stranger - by David Gregory

"Tell me, and I'll forget.  Show me, and I'll remember.  Involve me, and I'll learn."  -- Marla Jones

The Blind Horse

The Five-Finger Prayer

Did you know?

en·thu·si·asm:  Pronunciation: in-'thü-zE-"a-z&m, en-, also -'thyü-
Function: noun:  Etymology: Greek enthousiasmos, from enthousiazein to be inspired,

irregular from entheos inspired...   from en- + theos god

"...inspiration from God"

Jesus distilled the Ten Commandments in the following way:

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind,

soul and strength and your neighbor as yourself."

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