We will be lighting our solstice fire on Saturday December 21 at 4:19 to begin welcoming the light back as it starts to push back the dark days. The Solstice also has me remembering my Maternal Grandpa, Walter C. Quick who was born on December 22nd in 1890. He was one of my heroes who taught me so much. I can still remember sound of him sharpening saw blades in the basement as I sat on the rickety wooden steps that led to the stone basement and the smell of the drawer on the top left hand side of the dining buffet. It smelled of pink wintergreen candies and Redman Tobacco. I still love the small round pink candies when I can find them. They taste like love.....
Christmas music has always been a source of light for me, and I need it more than ever this year. (Just watched Mannheim Steamroller on PBS.)One of my professors once said there’s some theology so deep within us that it can only be sung. No wonder the Trappists and so many others sing so often and so meaningfully. (Carrie, I’m waiting on your album for this season.) I still cannot watch any news or listen to All Things Considered. But I can allow music to sustain me, lighten my heart, remind me of things that others have sung through centuries, which reminds me that folks have gotten through dark times before and will do so again. So tonight May we all sleep in heavenly peace.
I so love this song. I’ve been singing it to myself since I first heard it and now I’m singing it to my new friend, little Leo who, having been born in September, is all brand new. I sing it to him in the dim light of his nursery to soothe him into sleep. He doesn’t judge harshly my voice that isn’t so good, it just connects us in the sweetest and most simple way of relaxing into one another. Gratitude to you and John for creating it.
I think your post is a tribute to the power of prayer, in the form of singing. It is a way to connect with Ultimate Reality, which for those of us who believe, always offers hope. John Hick notes that unselfish love and compassion are the fruits of true religious experience, and I would extend this to organized religion. Singing In The Dark wonderfully conveys these ideas.
As I have shared before, I seem to always either be singing aloud to myself and my dogs, listening to songs going through my head, and listening to the song of Spirit in the form of sound in my ear(s). This allows me to hold the space for the Light and the Loving to come shine through despite the darkness and be a Light Bearer for others. Namaste.
It was such a privilege to share this Dec 2022 experience at Gethsemani with you Carrie and yet another special time at Gethsemani with the monks and friends of Thomas Merton's writings last summer. As we move into the darker days of winter, and what sadly promises ot be dark days for our country ahead, let us all remember to keep singing in the dark. To keep on adding our light to the sum of light.
Thank you for the invitation and gracious welcome that made the experience possible. It is good to know that we are singing together for that better world. I loved your posting on Medium today. Folks, Judith is a fabulous writer and has a regular offering on Medium (another platform like Substack). https://judithvalente.medium.com/an-invitation-to-quietude-3834f42b2185
Thank you Carrie. I feel all of us in the 'A Gathering of Spirits' family are indeed kindred spirits and inter-connected in our hope and compassion for this fragile, fragmented world. Yes, we'll keep singing together and with you! This Advent season is an invitation to greater quietude and deeper listening, as I write in the Substack column referenced above, but Advent is also a summons to never lose hope that our better angels will always prevail in the end. A big thank you Carrie and to this great community!
I have always loved this song. Especially the line “We all lift up our voices and our voices become one”. However, it has new meaning now. I have been a activist for a several years and am still in high school. I know these next four years are going to be rough for many people I care about. I know refugees and people who have struggled to get reproductive health care. I will continue to sing in the dark for them. I love this song as both a reminder that people are holding me up in the dark and as a reminder of the importance of being one of the people who lifts up my voice. Thank you for the important message of your music.
Never thought they would be singing for me… hmmm. Feeling more held with this idea. Been waking- often at 3am- throughout the last year. This gives me reason to smile and give gratitude as I lay awake in the dark. Your question about singing in the dark hits deep. Lots of feelings but no words yet. Will sit with it. And was good to hear your voice this morning.
Thank you Amy, I found the idea a very comforting one. The middle of the night is so vulnerable and tender, and yet it is also the time that babies are born full of potential and new beginnings. I believe there might orders of Trappist monks in every time zone. If so there would literally always be someone singing. But we sing in so many ways…..the song was an affirmation of the care we give one another, even in tender times.
Yes. I thought same about the time zones!Indeed we sing in so many ways. Had the blessing of a quiet morning to take this and sit- then journal. And cry. Good release. Truth from deep within pouring forth. My heart is full. 🙏🏽
Your question 'what might be softened...?' struck me today. Holding that question might lead to practicing awareness of our own soft parts, and those of others. It's a testimony to being conscious of how we too easily project our stuff outside us. If we let our soft parts 'be', noticing our vulnerabililties when they arise, that energy is audible and visible and felt by others. It's not 'kumbiya' energy, but a shifting, living presence.
A perfect song for the season indeed.
Thank you Carrie
Thomas Merton died on this date, December 10, in 1968. Lovely link between your time in his hermitage and abbey and this post.
We will be lighting our solstice fire on Saturday December 21 at 4:19 to begin welcoming the light back as it starts to push back the dark days. The Solstice also has me remembering my Maternal Grandpa, Walter C. Quick who was born on December 22nd in 1890. He was one of my heroes who taught me so much. I can still remember sound of him sharpening saw blades in the basement as I sat on the rickety wooden steps that led to the stone basement and the smell of the drawer on the top left hand side of the dining buffet. It smelled of pink wintergreen candies and Redman Tobacco. I still love the small round pink candies when I can find them. They taste like love.....
Susan Ulmer
Thank you! Such a wonderful capturing song that touches me to attend more to the beauty
and minute by minute meaning, beauty and gifts of dark and light!
Christmas music has always been a source of light for me, and I need it more than ever this year. (Just watched Mannheim Steamroller on PBS.)One of my professors once said there’s some theology so deep within us that it can only be sung. No wonder the Trappists and so many others sing so often and so meaningfully. (Carrie, I’m waiting on your album for this season.) I still cannot watch any news or listen to All Things Considered. But I can allow music to sustain me, lighten my heart, remind me of things that others have sung through centuries, which reminds me that folks have gotten through dark times before and will do so again. So tonight May we all sleep in heavenly peace.
I so love this song. I’ve been singing it to myself since I first heard it and now I’m singing it to my new friend, little Leo who, having been born in September, is all brand new. I sing it to him in the dim light of his nursery to soothe him into sleep. He doesn’t judge harshly my voice that isn’t so good, it just connects us in the sweetest and most simple way of relaxing into one another. Gratitude to you and John for creating it.
I think your post is a tribute to the power of prayer, in the form of singing. It is a way to connect with Ultimate Reality, which for those of us who believe, always offers hope. John Hick notes that unselfish love and compassion are the fruits of true religious experience, and I would extend this to organized religion. Singing In The Dark wonderfully conveys these ideas.
Your music and messages lifted me up today, so beautiful and heartwarming. Thank you❣️
As I have shared before, I seem to always either be singing aloud to myself and my dogs, listening to songs going through my head, and listening to the song of Spirit in the form of sound in my ear(s). This allows me to hold the space for the Light and the Loving to come shine through despite the darkness and be a Light Bearer for others. Namaste.
It was such a privilege to share this Dec 2022 experience at Gethsemani with you Carrie and yet another special time at Gethsemani with the monks and friends of Thomas Merton's writings last summer. As we move into the darker days of winter, and what sadly promises ot be dark days for our country ahead, let us all remember to keep singing in the dark. To keep on adding our light to the sum of light.
Thank you for the invitation and gracious welcome that made the experience possible. It is good to know that we are singing together for that better world. I loved your posting on Medium today. Folks, Judith is a fabulous writer and has a regular offering on Medium (another platform like Substack). https://judithvalente.medium.com/an-invitation-to-quietude-3834f42b2185
Thank you Carrie. I feel all of us in the 'A Gathering of Spirits' family are indeed kindred spirits and inter-connected in our hope and compassion for this fragile, fragmented world. Yes, we'll keep singing together and with you! This Advent season is an invitation to greater quietude and deeper listening, as I write in the Substack column referenced above, but Advent is also a summons to never lose hope that our better angels will always prevail in the end. A big thank you Carrie and to this great community!
Carrie
I have always loved this song. Especially the line “We all lift up our voices and our voices become one”. However, it has new meaning now. I have been a activist for a several years and am still in high school. I know these next four years are going to be rough for many people I care about. I know refugees and people who have struggled to get reproductive health care. I will continue to sing in the dark for them. I love this song as both a reminder that people are holding me up in the dark and as a reminder of the importance of being one of the people who lifts up my voice. Thank you for the important message of your music.
Thank you Anise, We do not sing alone in the dark…we are many and we are great with love.
Never thought they would be singing for me… hmmm. Feeling more held with this idea. Been waking- often at 3am- throughout the last year. This gives me reason to smile and give gratitude as I lay awake in the dark. Your question about singing in the dark hits deep. Lots of feelings but no words yet. Will sit with it. And was good to hear your voice this morning.
Thank you Amy, I found the idea a very comforting one. The middle of the night is so vulnerable and tender, and yet it is also the time that babies are born full of potential and new beginnings. I believe there might orders of Trappist monks in every time zone. If so there would literally always be someone singing. But we sing in so many ways…..the song was an affirmation of the care we give one another, even in tender times.
Yes. I thought same about the time zones!Indeed we sing in so many ways. Had the blessing of a quiet morning to take this and sit- then journal. And cry. Good release. Truth from deep within pouring forth. My heart is full. 🙏🏽
There is something wonderfully mysterious and comforting to be reminded that the monks at Gethsemani are constantly singing for us and the world.
Thank you!
Your question 'what might be softened...?' struck me today. Holding that question might lead to practicing awareness of our own soft parts, and those of others. It's a testimony to being conscious of how we too easily project our stuff outside us. If we let our soft parts 'be', noticing our vulnerabililties when they arise, that energy is audible and visible and felt by others. It's not 'kumbiya' energy, but a shifting, living presence.
So beautiful David! Thank you
Regarding religion, I have always thought these lyrics ran far too true
"Open up the gates of the church and let me out of here
Too many people have lied in the name of Christ
For anyone to heed the call
So many people have died in the name of Christ
That I can't believe it all"
From the song Cathedral by Graham Nash
It’s a powerful song for sure my friend.