If I were a wise man, I would know my part
– Christina Rossetti
What then can I give Him, I must give my heart
Today I am excited to be out “on assignment”, traipsing around Tarboro with my Nikon. I have instructions to grab a specific series of images to go with an upcoming piece of writing.
Of course the editor asking for the photographs is actually me, so the work is not exactly going to be lucrative! Tuesday Rebekah and I were taken on a tour by two of our new friends. We saw an interesting cross-section of all things Tarboro, but I can’t write about it until I have a few photographs to – hopefully – tell an interesting story.
Tomorrow, if all goes well.
Today, here is my favorite Christmas carol:
Sometimes, like that song from The Sound of Music, “these are a few of my favorite things” somehow magically come together in a single hybrid package.
- I really like traditional Christmas Carols.
- My favorite carol is “In the Bleak Midwinter” (Rossetti/Holst).
- I am partial to the sound of the acoustic guitar.
- I always appreciate the work of contemporary singer/songwriter James Taylor.
- I am a huge fan of worship music that brings contemporary, light-rock, arrangements to traditional hymns.
Bring all five of those “favorite things” together, and you have James Taylor’s soulful rendition of In the Bleak Midwinter.
So today, just in case you haven’t heard it (or are curious to see if I can pull it off!), I thought I would share – with apologies to J.T. – my interpretation of his inspired rendering.
But remember “grace” – my word for the second week in Advent. Because, if you listen, I am absolutely going to need some!
What can I give him?
For me, the most telling part of this song is the following question, “What can I give him, empty as I am?”
My answer, always, has to be this: Everything that defines me; all of my work, all my relationships, all my hopes and dreams, all my creativity, all my love, all the promise of tomorrow.
My gifts may be more in the direction of words, I admit that… but when I sing this song I feel it so honestly, so viscerally, so instinctively, so deeply into my soul that it just feels right to share it with you – missed notes and poorly executed chord progressions and muddled phrasings and all.
And maybe, especially if you are at all hesitant about what it might mean to follow Jesus, you too can begin by – simply – giving him your heart – DEREK
In the bleak midwinter, icy wind made moan
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone
Snow on snow had fallen, snow on snow on snow
In the bleak midwinter, long, long agoAngels and archangels may have gathered there
Cherubim and seraphim rising in the air
O, only Mary, in her maiden bliss
Worshipped the beloved with a mother’s kissHeaven cannot hold Him, nor can earth sustain
Heaven and earth shall fall away when He comes to reignWhat then can I give Him, empty as I am
Christina Rossetti (1872) adapted by James Taylor
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb
If I were a wise man, I would know my part
What then can I give Him, I must give my heart
Thank you, Derek. This is beautiful in what it says and how you say it.
Thank you. Rebekah and I were just talking about you this evening! We were at a North Carolina Symphony concert and telling our friends about you and the Florida Orchestra