When I was in high school I went regularly to the youth group at my church. I am reasonably sure that it met every Sunday afternoon at 4:30. Choir practice was from 3:00 to 4:15, Youth Group was 4:30 – 5:30, then we would eat and church began at 6:00pm (and yes there already had been Sunday School and church in the morning 9:00 and 10:15 respectively). I went because I enjoyed it, I had a few friends, there, we got along reasonably well and there were a couple of girls that I sort of liked and wanted to be around, plus I probably did not have a choice.
One afternoon I remember having this discussion at youth group about popular music. Simon and Garfunkel, Peter, Paul and Mary, and of course the Beatles; were all quite popular at the time. Essentially the leaders of the youth gathering at church were striving to make the point that this music was not healthy listening for good Christian kids like we were supposed to be.
I remember trying to defend one particular song, Bridge Over Troubled Water, (Lyrics by P. Simon) by making the argument that it made a great “image of God song”. In my mind it ought to be seen as God offering himself (yes back then I would have eagerly made the case that God was a ‘he’ I have learned better now) as that bridge over the troubled waters of life. I made several comparisons, one to the 23rd Psalm, where God leads us beside the still waters. I made another comparison to Peter walking on the troubled water in Matthew and Jesus saving him.
The leaders of the group, the other youth in the group, none of them were going to let me get by with my interpretation. The argument they all made and were sticking to was that since Paul Simon was not a Christian, God could not possibly be speaking through words he wrote. Even after the meeting, no one wanted to give me any support for my interpretive thoughts. But see I knew it was true. The summer of 1968 my father died and I was weary and feeling small, there were tears that no one saw during those rough days and I heard God speak to me through these words.
When you’re weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes,
I will dry them all
I’m on your side
When times get rough
And friends just can’t be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
When you’re down and out
When you’re on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you
I’ll take your part
When darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Sail on silver girl
Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
When you need a friend
I’m sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Today the Sacred Essence that is All and in All and of All, continues to speak to us all in amazing ways, my dreams are still on their way. Our minds are eased through the community that gathers around and brings the compassion of God to us. The voice of the sacred comes through the teachings of the Buddha and the words of the Q’uran and the teachings of the Native American spiritualists and through song writers no matter what they believe.
God is still speaking, through more voices than we can possibly imagine. Whether in a song, while planting a tree, or through the embrace of a friend, listen and hear God speak to you.
Blessings Friends.
