A Rambling Musing for June 29, 2023

On Monday of this week, I was listening to a musician I know talk about a song that many of us remember from John Denver, titled “The Garden Song.” It is a wonderful song, and I especially enjoy it this time of the year when fresh tomatoes and cucumbers and such begin to come from the vine.

The singer I was listening to on his podcast said that that song was actually written by a gentleman named David Mallet. Since I had never heard of that writer, I “Google-stalked“ him.

He is a singer-songwriter that comes out of the 1970s folk music era. He is still performing and recording music, though not traveling as much. In his prime, he sang with folks like Peter Paul and Mary, Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, and the like. He also appeared on multiple occasions with The Prairie Home Companion radio show that ran for many years on NPR.

Once I found him, I began to search around his website because everyone today has a website. This led me to a recent song and video entitled “Celebration.” I always like a good celebration, so I decided to click the link and go over to YouTube and check it out. It is not a fun song but instead is more of a call-to-action old-fashioned folk tune. It is a powerful song about the realities of our modern society, which are often harsh and troubling, but also a song of hope because the singer believes that we can do better. The song title comes from the idea that by working together and for each other, we might have a time of celebration.

While this song is certainly not necessarily intended to be a song of faith, I found some meaning beyond what was most likely intended. Instead, the words reminded me of one of our central beliefs and hopes as followers of Jesus Christ.

The first line of the chorus is where I found the line. It states…

This can't be our destination.

The entire chorus is

This can't be our destination

This could be a better nation,

Time to set the big horse racin',

We can change the situation.

Trains are leavin' from the station,

Need a brand new generation,

This could be a celebration now, now.

Now I understand that he is talking about our work to make this country a better place. He is encouraging his listeners to work towards helping these 50 United States become a more perfect union.

I certainly understand and appreciate that sentiment. While our country is indeed a land of the free, we are not yet a place where all are fully free. Additionally, we have often failed to embrace the ideas found in the Preamble to the Constitution.

Therefore, like many I will celebrate July 4th with fireworks, and wearing red, white, and blue, and give thanks for this great nation and all that she is.

However, I will also continue to point out her flaws and shortcomings. These national imperfections are what drive me to work for and advocate for this land that I love in hope that we might do better. And it is because I love this land and the high ideals upon which it was founded that I pray we as this great American experiment will continue to grow so we might remain a beacon of hope and even better demonstrate liberty and justice all.

However, as I said the first line of the chorus, that this is not our destination, strongly spoke to me from a perspective of the Christian life.

Friends, as Christians, we truly believe that this world is not our destination. We instead have hope in a promised day awaiting all in the Kingdom of God. And it is that belief that allows us to work for justice and mercy with hope because we know even when we fail, or even our nation fails, to live up to its promise that a penultimate day of peace awaits where we will live in God’s glory.

Friends, the realization that this is not our destination gives me comfort and also strengthens me to keep on keeping on, especially when I mess up. This is because I have faith that God walks with me and that there is a better day awaiting all of us in the beloved kingdom of God.

Anyway, I hope that this musing, which feels more like a rambling, has given you some things to think about and pray about. Maybe it even encouraged you, as you continue to be the hands and feet of Christ in this world. And if nothing else, I will leave you with links to both songs I mentioned in this musing which say things far better than I have. Have a blessed week.

Clay.

https://youtu.be/D3FkaN0HQgs John Denver’s version of The Garden Song with the Muppets too!

https://youtu.be/fXwYUHpjGx0 Celebration David Mallet lyrics and guitar chords below.

[Verse 1]

C

Sometimes you just don't feel like tryin',

G

Too many politicians lyin',

Am

Too many hungry babies cryin',

F

Too many random bullets flyin'.

C

Too much time spent in struggle,

G

Too many little kids in trouble,

Am

Too many cities gone to rubble,

F

Too many people talkin' double.

[Chorus 1]

C

This can't be our destination,

F

This could be a better nation,

C

Time to set the big horse racin',

G

We can change the situation.

Am

Trains are leavin' from the station,

F

Need a brand-new generation,

C G C G

This could be a celebration now, now.

[Verse 2]

C

Situations changin' fast,

G

Too much plastic too much trash,

Am

Too many smoke stacks spewing ash,

F

Too many people with no cash.

C

Too much waste not enough water,

G

Too many abandoned sons and daughters,

Am

Too many lost and hopeless feelings,

F

Too many lowdown shady dealings.

[Chorus 2]

C

This can't be our destination,

F

This could be a better nation,

C

Time to set the big horse racin',

G

Need a brand-new generation.

Am

Trains are leavin' from the station,

F

Me I got no reservation,

C G C G

This could be a celebration now, now.

[Verse 3]

C

All the time I hear this roaring,

G

Pavement steel and iron ore and,

Am

People shouting all so sure that,

F

Their side is the right side more and,

C

More. I see abandoned floors and

G

Stores, weary tired and poorer all the

Am

Time folks, they're just buried in the

F

Wine, because they're all so bored and

C

It's become unnatural the,

G

Way we need the things without a,

Am

Reason feed the greed the weeds grow,

F

From the roots we're all runnin' from the

C

Truth. We choose to fight instead to,

G

Prove ourselves leave love and hope,

Am

Upon the shelf divided they're just,

F

Free to sell us anything.

[Chorus 3]

C

This can't be our destination,

F

This could be a better nation,

C

Time to set the big horse racin',

G

Need a brand-new generation.

Am

Time to change the conversation,

F

Trains are leavin' from the station,

C G C G

This could be a celebration now, now.

[Verse 4]

C

Too many people looking down,

G

Too many closed up factory towns,

Am

Too much high-priced propaganda,

F

Too much sadness in this land of

C

Dreams. That once could all come true,

G

Now it's down to me and you,

Am

Tell me what you gonna do,

F

Tell me what you gonna do now,

[Chorus 4]

C

This can't be our destination,

F

This could be a better nation,

C

Time to set the big horse racin',

G

Need a brand-new generation.

Am

Trains are leavin' from the station,

F

This could be a celebration,

C

Me I got no reservation,

G

This could be a celebration,

C

This could be a celebration,

F

This could be a celebration,

C G C G C G

This could be a celebration now, now, now

C

now.