Wednesday, May 23, 2007

a month of Octobers

A song that God has wonderfully used; one that has gotten me through every October (literal or spiritual) for twenty five years:

"October"

"October
and the trees are stripped bare
of all they wear
do i care?

October
and kingdoms rise
and kingdoms fall
but You go on
and on..."

(Paul Hewson, 1982)


It may have been June (1983...I was a month old as a Christian; U2 waqs my first "Christian" concert), but I will never forget being just feet from Bono as he prayed "October" for us...my brother and I (We were in the audience at the New Haven Coliseum...so long ago that a U2 concert was not sold out!).. A couple concert versions are available to soundtrack this simple prayer:




A few more here ...enough to get you through a month of Octobers..

-----
While grabbing these videos, I found another "October," one I didn't know, this one from Evanesence:



I can't run anymore,
I fall before You,
Here I am,
I have nothing left,
Though I've tried to forget,
You're all that I am,
Take me home,
I'm through fighting it,
Broken,
Lifeless,
I give up,
You're my only strength,
Without you,
I can't go on,
Anymore,
Ever again.

My only hope,
(All the times I've tried)
My only peace,
(To walk away from You)
My only joy,
My only strength,
(I fall into Your abounding grace)
My only power,
My only life,
(And love is where I am)
My only love.

I can't run anymore,
I give myself to You,
I'm sorry,
I'm sorry,
In all my bitterness,
I ignored,
All that's real and true,
All I need is You,
When night falls on me,
I'll not close my eyes,
I'm too alive,
And you're too strong,
I can't lie anymore,
I fall down before you,
I'm sorry,
I'm sorry.

My only hope,
(All the times I've tried)
My only peace,
(To walk away from You)
My only joy,
My only strength,
(I fall into Your abounding grace)
My only power,
My only life,
(And love is where I am)
My only love.

Constantly ignoring,
The pain consuming me,
But this time it's cut too deep,
I'll never stray again.

My only hope,
(All the times I've tried)
My only peace,
(To walk away from you)
My only joy,
My only strength,
(I fall into your abounding grace)
My only power,
My only life,
(And love is where I am)
My only love,
My only hope,
(All the times I've tried)
My only peace,
(To walk away from you)
My only joy,
My only strength,
(I fall into your abounding grace)
My only power,
My only life,
(And love is where I am)
My only love

-----------------------

Gee, both songs are beautiful Christian prayers. Why have both artists been banned from "Christian radio"?

Never mind.

There is
no spoon.

Happy October.

2 comments:

  1. Why have both artists been banned from "Christian radio"?

    Because it's all about form rather than content. Shape instead of heart. Rationale instead of soul. Tradition instead of real love.

    But it's nice to know that in the absence of my own words, I can pray Evanescence.

    You know, I had heard that song like 2 years ago. I'm glad to have found it again.

    :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow, St. J, you nailed it:

    "Shape instead of heart"

    No wonder you are a poeta par excellence.

    The "presenting" reason for both bands being banned from Christian radio is the F word: the former guitar player from Evanesence once said "We are on Christian radio? What the f--- are we doing on there?" in an interview.

    That took care of it; their records were immediately pulled.

    I remember seeing evanescene CD at Family Christian Store. It was gone the next day.

    Bono of course is famous/infamous for dropping the F.bomb. But when he included it in a prayer on CD ("Wake up Dead Man")...that did it..

    The last time (I saw a U2 record in a Christian store (and it was a record..LP...that's how long ago...

    It was in the cutout rack, and the price sti9cker was strategically placed over something very offensive.

    That hilarious story ishere

    ReplyDelete

Hey, thanks for engaging the conversation!