Milestone.

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O Love that wilt Not Let Me Go

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I came across a post at Brian's site on Saturday that included a hymn with some outstanding lyrics in it. It's called, O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go. The words got to me. That's what hymns are supposed to be about. Making a joyful noise to the Lord with words filled with praise and gratitude and the understanding of what He's done for us. Not necessarily "praise", "praise", "praise", but words and ideas that evoke praise and that remind Him we've been in His book and understand who He is and what He's done for us. Those are the kind of words that are in this hymn. And it's beautiful musically as well. Hope I haven't wrecked it for ya.

So I thought, well shoot, I can't sing, but I play around with this thing and turn the congregation lose with it some Sunday Morning. On top of that, I can't keep from singing, so I have to just dive into it and make the most of it.

Here's where the milestone comes in. I got the tune all memorized and sort of crafted around with and roughly drafted and recorded all in mostly one day. I played it a couple times Saturday night and a couple times on Sunday but it quickly came to life today. And, wait a minute, just like most days, today I had to go do a few horses, get a bucket full of beets I had cut up pickled. Even now, it was just 8:45 and I realized I had about 10 scheduling calls to make that I had intended to but neglected to make. And it really looks like the dog blew up all over the floor of our house because I still haven't run the vacumn cleaner like I've been needing to. That will have to wait for another day.

But yikes, did I play the music today. The reason it's a musical milestone for me today is because I got this tune all arranged today and then finally played through once for the recorder all in one take. Yes, that's the good part----one time through. One time near the end I had to redo one part, but that was it. That's good news. I've been needing to get to this point musically. And this is a new style progression for me too. I'm finally coming to know this instrument better as well as coming to know how to manage my mind and my memory more effectively.

So give it a listen. It's very raw and rough but the general idea is there now for me to listen to and develope. By the end of the winter this should be one that I can make a finished recording of.

The voice needs so much work. I'm starting to gain control over the thing. It never dawned on me until it was too late that I was going to have to sing these things myself. I did have a scratchy voice week this week for some reason if that's any consolation. My voice is saying "you gotta be kidding", but I'm not taking no for an answer. It's been in emergency training now for about a year so I'm going to try and stay optimistic. All your complaints are surely justified.

So this is a milestone moment. Well, It's a rushed, rough milestone moment, but I had to tell someone.

Listen and hope. Thanks!

-Here's a link to the tune.-

O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go

O Love that wilt not let me go,

I rest my weary soul in thee;

I give thee back the life I owe,

That in thine ocean depths its flow

May richer, fuller be.

O light that followest all my way,

I yield my flickering torch to thee;

My heart restores its borrowed ray,

That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day

May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seekest me through pain,

I cannot close my heart to thee;

I trace the rainbow through the rain,

And feel the promise is not vain,

That morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that liftest up my head,

I dare not ask to fly from thee;

I lay in dust life’s glory dead,

And from the ground there blossoms red

Life that shall endless be.

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I'll try to update this version in month or two. It's pretty rough.