Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Summertime Rain and Christine Kane

Tonight, I decided to take a break from work and activism and go see Christine Kane in concert. I was hoping she would sing "I'm a Southern Girl Now" but she didn't. She is terrific to listen to, and she is a great performer. She also writes great stuff, and the lyrics to the last song she sang is printed below. She addressed this song to a local environmental group, after someone said to her that they wonder what good they are doing with their activism. They are not seeing results. Of course, those of us in the Peace Movement feel the same way a good deal of the time.

When we left, the heavens opened up and lots of rain (from Hurricane Dennis) came down. Some beautiful lightening in the distance. Big puddles everywhere, the air smelling sweet and soft, and the rain and air so warm that it does not matter that one gets all wet. The wonderful gift of rain and summertime warmth was with me tonight. I love a rainy night.

Tonight, I passed up going to a town hall meeting with US Representative Charles Taylor (R- NC). It turns out I missed something. I just heard that he said "we have got to go and fight for the oil" and they got it on video! I wish I had taken my Iraqi Civilian Casualties display boards down there and then confronted him with the "fight for oil" in the face of the deaths of so many innocents. I am hoping they can get this video clip on the web soon. I will post a link if they can.

The last song Christine Kane did was called "The Good You Do" and here are the lyrics:

You say that in times like these
You're driven down to your knees
Looking around grieving what peace there was
You promised yourself you would
Work for a world of good
Look at you now, wondering what good it does

No lost hope, no violent point of view
Can erase all of the good you do

There's nothing as dark as night
But nothing so strong as light
Here is the choice: to let it burn out or bright
In a world where the fear and force
Have buried the silent source
Can you deny the need for a light like yours?

No fast pace, no jaded attitude
Can erase all of the good you do

If someone has left his wrath
On everything in his path
Taking the wealth and leaving his trash behind
Will you be peace or pride?
Can you at last decide?
There's no one to fight - we are the same inside
So go home and get some rest
There's many more miles and tests
All about love - what if it comes to be all that we have left?

No dark place, no debt, and no abuse
Can erase all of the good you do

(You can look Christine Kane up on the web and listen to her songs. Let's hope all the work we do has a great deal of good coming from them and brings good into our hearts and lives. Thank you Christine for such a lovely song. The Quakers believe there is the light of God in all people, and that we can connect more deeply with God by meeting for silent worship. In silence, we can hear the essence of God's light speak to us in our lives and in the world. We regularly strive to stay connected to the silent source of God. Do not let fear and violence bury your "silent source".)

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