And the Song Remembers When

It's amazing to me how much we can connect through music. Our Heavenly Father told us to "speak to one another in psalms, hymns and spirtual songs teaching and encouraging one another" (Eph 5:17; Col 3:16) Is it any wonder that when certain songs we hear envoke emotion, cause us to reflect or take us back in time? Our creator and designer knows how our minds and hearts work. He understands that there is something inate within our minds that connects songs to events and memories.

A little while back a good friend of mine who sings barbershop invited me to a performance they were having nearby. My wife and I went to support him and have a good time hanging out with friends. They sang the song "Homeward bound" by Marta Keen. The song is based on a soldier writing home to comfort his family that he would find a way to come home again. Today while going over my lesson on Grace that I will be preaching in the morning that song has been stuck in my head and on my mind. Maybe it's because we had a singing tonight in Harrodsburg and I have been thinking of what songs I would lead. Maybe it's that often I think of songs that line up with my lesson to have our song leaders lead for us prior to the sermon. For whatever reason it continues to resonate within me.

The lyrics are as follows:
In the quiet misty morning when the moon has gone to bed,
When the sparrows stop their singing and the sky is clear and red.
When the summer’s ceased its gleaming,
When the corn is past its prime,
When adventure’s lost its meaning,
I’ll be homeward bound in time.

Bind me not to the pasture, chain me not to the plow.
Set me free to find my calling and I’ll return to you somehow.

If you find it’s me you're missing, if you’re hoping I’ll return.
To your thoughts I’ll soon be list’ning, and in the road I’ll stop and turn.
Then the wind will set me racing as my journey nears its end.
And the path I’ll be retracing when I’m homeward bound again.

Bind me not to the pasture, chain me not to the plow.
Set me free to find my calling and I’ll return to you somehow.

In the quiet misty morning when the moon has gone to bed,
When the sparrows stop their singing,
I’ll be homeward bound again.

-Music and Lyrics by Marta Keen
You can put it into youtube and find several videos that will give you the a true feeling for the song and maybe a better understanding of why it resonates within me.

I am not military-never been don't think I could do it but very thankful for those who can. This song doesn't bring me the feelings that many may have about soldiers going home. The feelings I have are about going home to heaven. It's a difficult life here on earth. A quick look around will give you plenty evidence of sorry, pain and woe that make me long to go to Jesus as Paul said "Is far better" Phil 1. To think about this life coming to an end for things to get better not worse a longing to be with my Lord and Savior a longing to be homeward bound.

I think of the lyrics "Bind me not to the pasture, chain me not to the plow.
Set me free to find my calling and I’ll return to you somehow" makes me think of letting go of our inhibitions in order to find our place in the kingdom. Find our what our "calling" is and how we can be useful in service to the Master. Our friends and family that we may have to leave behind while we pursue service to our God can be united again with us when they are obedient to the gospel call. If our lives are lost here they can be united with us in the home forever more.

A beautiful song with a great message. Please let me know what songs take you back to a place and time or ones that help you to refocus.
MPE