Friday August 10 2017  SONGS OF OLD

 

Being considered as a certified member of the “older” generation and perhaps a bit “old fashioned” I choose to give a bit of insight to this situation.  Along with being in that category I must say it comes with blessing as well as a bit of mourning.  The blessing is we have a long history and have lived many years that many young people may never have the chance to experience due to early deaths.  The mourning aspect is the fact that all too soon our lives will be over.  Dave’s mother who was in her nineties one said to him in all sincerity as she lay ill in her hospital bed, “I’m just too young to die”. 

Yes, if we are fortunate we will live to a ripe old age, become a bit old fashioned, be put out to pasture, enjoy our retirement, secretly mourn the passing of self as the years settle in and look back over lives lived well.  And I’m sure that is how the young may perceive us, especially with the old fashioned part thrown in.  And you know what, that is the bare bones truth…the “old fashioned” part that is.  And I’m there.  And I love being there because when I look back over my life I still enjoy doing some of those very old fashioned things I used to do; like holding a book in my hands when I read it, or actually sitting down in a quiet place when having a conversation on the telephone without needing to drive or do ten other things while I’m using the phone. 

Another old fashioned “thing” I enjoy doing is listening to, and singing, old hymns.  Oh how I love the thoughtful choruses and the rhyming of the verses.  How so very pleasant are the tunes and attitude of worship in both words and music.   Very rarely do we sing a hymn at church but it is always a delight when we do. 

I turned on my CD player this morning and listened to old hymns being performed by guitarists and pianists.  Oh what a delight!  Though the words were not verbalized they resounded in my memory.  I mentally (and sometimes out loud) hummed along and even sang some of the stanzas and verses.  Some of the words came back to me, some did not, but I knew the stories behind some of the songs and sometimes even a bit of history as to the circumstances that caused the verses to be written.  That made the songs even more special. 

So, if I am old fashioned, so be it.  The younger generation will never know how awesome it was to live in the era I lived.  You could buy a huge chocolate candy bar for five cents if you were lucky enough to have five cents. Yes, we had wars and depressions, famine and the cold war, but even with all that, the world in general seemed more gracious, kind, compassionate, and caring of one for another.  It seems that in our modern day world very few of the younger generation know how to carry on a conversation, especially with an older person.  I must admit it is sad to see the demise of the “old fashioned” kindnesses and concerns of the past.  Actually it is kind of scary.

But for a little while this morning I simply sat and listened and allowed myself the pleasure of capturing some of the words of the songs that were being played, and construed them into a poem The words echo from my past as I sat in a little church in Pinole, California singing off key along with a congregation of about 30 other people.  

 

SONGS OF OLD

Kathleen Martens

August 10, 2017

www.visionsofpoetry.com

 

Old hymns echo in my memory

As I listen to instruments

Strum the tunes

Of long ago.

 

Words of comfort from childhood days

“Washed all my sins away”

And oh to remember

“We stand on the Promises of God”.

 

And even today—I still stand

“On the promises of God, my Savior.”

“I will shout and sing

“I’m standing on the promises

Of Christ my King!”

 

And “Blessed Assurance

Jesus is mine

And oh what a foretaste

Of glory divine…”

“Heir of salvation

Purchase of God.

Born of His Spirit,

Washed in His blood.”

 

The violin sings in soulful sound

As if my heart its source.

Resounding joy of yester-year

Once again to expound.

 

Music—God’s gift to creation

That man would hear

Nature’s character loud and clear.

 

“What can wash away

My sins?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus”

Another old song and remembered friend.

 

My “Rock of Ages,

Cleft for me

Let me hide myself in Thee”

And as I listen

Memories fly free.

 

Then I sing

“Give me that old time religion”,

And though words escape me

Joy explodes and my heart rings.

 

The banjo strums

The piano hums

My smile bursts forth!

Words escape,

But the tune

Has so much worth.

 

And my heart is glad

My smile is seen.

Music echoes in my soul;

My countenance a shiny sheen!

 

 

Thank You God for this day.

Thank You God for memories.

Thank You Lord for walking with me each day.

 

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU!