Discussion Meeting June 5th: "Honoring Fathers"

I really enjoyed this meeting! We had several new faces who contributed a lot to the conversation. I felt that some of the insights into life stages in different cultures contributed to my understanding of how various people cope with and view the process of aging. We did wander off topic some but the side-discussions were also inspiring and faith-affirming for me.

I really enjoyed sharing a song by Peter Mayer, "Holy Now" that my dad shared with me that has influenced my faith and spirituality for many years. It was appropriate that we had the music festival the weekend before and that it was through music that my father really touched my spirit and inspired me to pursue my own faith and understanding of God. We share a bond through that and other songs that is very important to me so that whenever I hear them I think of him and am inspired to focus my energies on the things that are really important in my life- my faith and my family.

Holy Now Lyrics

When I was a boy, each week

On Sunday, we would go to church

And pay attention to the priest

He would read the holy word

And consecrate the holy bread

And everyone would kneel and bow

Today the only difference is

Everything is holy now

Everything, everything Everything is holy now

When I was in Sunday school

We would learn about the time

Moses split the sea in two

Jesus made the water wine

And I remember feeling sad

That miracles don’t happen still

But now I can’t keep track

‘Cause everything’s a miracle Everything,

Everything Everything’s a miracle

Wine from water is not so small

But an even better magic trick

Is that anything is here at all

So the challenging thing becomes

Not to look for miracles

But finding where there isn’t one

When holy water was rare at best

It barely wet my fingertips

But now I have to hold my breath

Like I’m swimming in a sea of it

It used to be a world half there

Heaven’s second rate hand-me-down

But I walk it with a reverent air

‘Cause everything is holy now

Everything, everything Everything is holy now

Read a questioning child’s face

And say it’s not a testament

That’d be very hard to say

See another new morning come

And say it’s not a sacrament

I tell you that it can’t be done

This morning, outside I stood

And saw a little red-winged bird

Shining like a burning bush

Singing like a scripture verse

It made me want to bow my head

I remember when church let out

How things have changed since then

Everything is holy now

It used to be a world half-there

Heaven’s second rate hand-me-down

But I walk it with a reverent air

‘Cause everything is holy now

-Melissa