Sing to the Mountains

A friend sent me an e-mail. Then she phoned and said she wanted to be sure I got the message and since I was unavailable, she sang me a song. Then she called back and said she'd sent me a link with the song.

The phone messages left tears in my eyes. I'm pretty sure the woman has noticed that I haven't called back and maybe is afraid she offended me or that I don't care, but in my defense the last two days have been simply crazy in taking care of things that had to be done.

Sick C and I slept in Tuesday because there was no school. Then we last minute reviewed some election stuff and went off to the library to vote. Old hat to me. First time for her. (See her blog, I'm sure she'll post how she felt about it.) [By the way, I pray God will have his hand in the leading of our country and help everybody really work together and choose the right according to His definition.] Today at a doctor's appointment made before we got sick, he decided I had bronchitis and sent me home with an antiobiotic to make all better. C will get there tomorrow (? I hope) so she can get all better, too. I had a 'service project' and Wednesdays are always spent in delivering to mutual so during that time I made great progress on my latest Sparks book. Yesterday afternoon, I simply had to avail myself of the beautiful weather and dug up the pond garden's share of daffodils. Considering they were in clumps bigger than grapefruits, I could tell they really were long overdue. I replanted them thinned out and added some to the lower level. Now what to do with a whole peck of bulbs before it snows???

Finally... I have been able to get on line and now after reading the e-mail, listening to the Elvis videos, and reading the latest on Susan's blog...

I am here at last and ready to write in response to her sweet reaching out in friendship. She spent the time to read my entry. She took the time to call and went out of her comfort zone to sing about This Mountain to Climb. She spent time on the net to find a video of Elvis performing the song because his style is -- well, so Elvis. There is none like him after all. See for yourself... hope the link works...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycX9ZICs4V8&feature=related

If doing all this isn't friendship, what is? ...and yet, there was more that brought tears to my eyes. Some tears were because of the words I heard inviting me to call. More of the tears happened because of the music. Of course it was Elvis; I've always liked listening to Elvis. And it was about the mountain. It was the music about the mountain.

It reminded me that: "When God can't get to me any other way, He gives me music." Funny, that quote is mine. I've known it for years -- when I've been stubborn, or hard of hearing, or thinking other thoughts -- a song comes along and reminds me that He hears me and knows who I am and cares about the things that break my heart. Music has more impact on me than any other form of words even though words can touch me deeply.

It's like the other quote that I first heard Marci say in a talk at Church: "A friend is someone who knows the song of your heart and sings it back to you when you have forgotten the words."

When I was a senior in high school, my father died on February 21. When I returned to school, the choir continued learning songs for the spring concert. Two became etched indelibly in my heart because of the loss I'd just experienced.

Climb every mountain,
Search high and low,
Follow every byway,
Every path you know.

Climb every mountain,
Ford every stream,
Follow every rainbow,
'Till you find your dream.

A dream that will need
All the love you can give,
Every day of your life
For as long as you live.

Climb every mountain,
Ford every stream,
Follow every rainbow,
Till you find your dream

A dream that will need
All the love you can give,
Every day of your life,
For as long as you live.

Climb every mountain,
Ford every stream,
Follow every rainbow,
Till you find your dream.

(Rodgers and Hammerstein, The Sound of Music)

As we sang there in the choir room at school, I could picture the Mother Superior singing to Maria and it brought tears to my eyes because there was still hope in my sorrow.

"When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high, and don't be afraid of the dark. At the end of the storm is a golden sky and the sweet silver song of a lark. Walk on through the wind. Walk on through the rain, though your dreams be tossed and blown. Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart, and you'll never walk alone. No you'll never walk alone."

And to this day, I can close my eyes and picture the room while we sang those songs that brought tears to my eyes and comfort to my soul...

Picture this hymn as if it is about climbing a mountain...

Does the journey seem long, The path rugged and steep?

Are there briars and thorns on the way?

Do sharp stones cut your feet as you struggle to rise

To the height thru the heat of the day?

Is your hear faint and sad, Your soul weary within,

As you toil 'neath your burden of care?

Does the load heavy seem You are forced now to lift?

Is there no one your burden to share?

Let your heart be not faint Now the journey's begun;

There is One who still beckons to you.

So look upward in joy And take hold of his hand;

He will lead you to heights that are new --

A land holy and pure, Where all trouble doth end,

And your life shall be free from all sin,

Where no tears shall be shed, For no sorrows remain.

Take his hand and with him enter in.

(Hymns of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, #127, Text: Joseph Fielding Smith 1876-1972; Music: George D. Pyper, 1860-1943)

(Oh, I guess I'm going to have to find the poem about the mountain....)

Although, I haven't called -- yet -- there is always tomorrow....