While I try to decide what to write about today, let this ancient Irish hymn (it goes back over a thousand years) hold my place. It’s one of my favorite hymns, and I hope the video works. I won’t know until I’ve posted it.
Sometimes it’s best just to “be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
We need His protection in this evil age.
Let us turn from the accelerating, self-inflicted ruination of our world–for the earth is the Lord’s, and He will put it right–and turn to one of the most beautiful songs in the English language–Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms. The words are by the 19th century poet Thomas Moore, who wrote them to his wife, who had smallpox and was afraid he wouldn’t love her anymore.
Believe me, if all those endearing young charms,
Which I gaze on so fondly today,
Were to change by tomorrow, and fleet in my arms,
Like fairy-gifts fading away,
Thou wouldst still be adored, as this moment thou art,
Let thy loveliness fade as it will,
And around the dear ruin each wish of my heart
Would entwine itself verdantly still.
It is not while beauty and youth are thine own,
And thy cheeks unprofaned by a tear
That the fervor and faith of a soul can be known,
To which time will but make thee more dear;
No, the heart that has truly loved never forgets,
But as truly loves on to the close,
As the sunflower turns on her god, when he sets,
The same look which she turned when he rose.
And here is a nice video rendition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPc-TZeUwtl
Sorry, but there is absolutely no way I can read this aloud! My heart fills up, and then my eyes. So as much as I would like to read this to my wife as her Valentine present, I’m afraid she’ll just have to read it herself.
See if you can read it all the way through to your wife, or your husband.
Love is the gift of God (for God is love); and love endures.
[Sorry again! No matter what video I try to post, youtube makes it instantly unavailable. Then it reappears a moment later. I may know some secrets of the heart, but I don’t know beans about computers and you’ll just have to find a video yourself. It won’t be hard–there are many versions of this song on youtube.]
To help the institutional churches express themselves more clearly, a new interdenominational hymn has been written: Throwing in the Towel, to be sung to the tune of Bringing in the Sheaves. Here are the lyrics.
Triumph for abortion, joy for same-sex “marriage,”
Now we understand: the bad guys always win.
We the church surrender, we the church cry “uncle!”
Now we understand there’s no such thing as sin.
Chorus
Throwing in the towel, throwing in the towel,
We know when we’re licked, we’re throwing in the towel (repeat)
We have been defeated, we have lost the culture;
Gates of hell have finally ‘gainst the church prevailed.
Sorry, Lord, we blew it, we just couldn’t do it,
Satan’s team has won and we the church have failed. Chorus
Check out this interview, with me, on AFA’s site.
Christian Fantasy Writer Lee Duigon from RoadKill Radio on Vimeo.
Family Freedom Fighters: Christian Fantasy Writer Lee Duigon
Ron Gray speaks with respected columnist and fantasy writer Lee Duigon, author of the popular “Bell Mountain” series. Among the topics: Teachers usurping parental authority; also, how did Christianity suddenly vaporize from the world of “The Hunger Games”?