By the River…

As I walked along the Big Thompson River

I contemplated the Lenten journey

A journey of introspection

A journey of the heart and soul

This song came to my heart and I began to sing

By the Rivers of Babylon

This is Linda Ronstadt’s version – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEPr_ZF9HLs

As the people of Israel found themselves in Exile

Surely they wondered

How do you sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land

Then the song from Godspell came to me – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-b4Q_kanRc

On the willows there

We hung up our lives

In today’s atmosphere of hatred and fear

Love is too often shoved aside in favor of hate

Welcome in favor of fear

As I walked along the river I prayed

Lord make me an instrument of your peace

Where there is hatred, let me sow love

Where there is injury, pardon

Where there is doubt, faith

Where there is despair, hope

Where there is darkness, light

Where there is sadness, joy

By the river, You spoke to my heart

By the river, You called me

By the river, You renewed me

By the river