Bringing hope – whether the people knew it, or not!
I attended a funeral a few years ago. My preacher friend’s mother had died and he felt honoured to conduct the service. His siblings had specifically asked that no religious references be made during the service ‘whatsoever.’ He dutifully carried out his family’s wishes, but for one deviation into a ‘grey area.’ He said, “I would like to read the lyrics of a famous song from 1965 by a group called, The Byrds.
It is called, ‘Turn! Turn! Turn!’ The lyrics read:
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep
A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing
A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace, I swear it’s not too late
Of course, those at the funeral who were in-the-know smiled. The others, unbeknownst to them, were probably sitting there singing along (in their heads) to lyrics lifted straight out of the Bible (with slight adjustments). Solomon’s ancient Psalm, turned 1960s. Hit Record, was doing what God’s word always does: Bringing hope – whether the people knew it, or not!
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