Hold On To What Is Good: A Song to Remember for 2009
Looking back on my year, it has been punctuated by several distinct events. Some events were adventures, full of joy and exploration. Some events were tragic, full of tears and heartache. For me, the musical soundtrack to my life comes from the songs that we were learning/performing at the time of the events taking place. Music is a part of my creative expression, an emotional outlet, and a time-out from my work. I have been singing in choirs, rehearsing at least once a week, for the past 21 years. Many of my great friendships have sprung up from connections made in one choir or another.
This fall, a friend of mine died suddenly.
My world was tossed upside down. I was sad, mad, confused, and broken, and I think I will be for a while yet.
During this difficult time, when everything seemed to be falling down around me, I took comfort in the words of a song we were learning. The words now took on a stronger meaning for me, when seen through the lens of the recent tragedy. They are beautiful words as a poem, but when sung in flowing four part harmony, were enough to make me cry the tears that needed to be cried. The music was arranged by Dr. Mark Sirett, and has not been published or recorded yet.
I have shared these words before, but think they are worth repeating.
Hold On To What is Good
Hold on to what is good
Even if it is a handful of earth
Hold on to what you believe in
Even if it is a tree which stands by itself
Hold on to what you must do
Even if it is a long way from here
Hold on to your life
Even if it is easier to let go
Hold on to my hand
Even when I have gone away from you
-Pueblo Indian prayer
I knit these lovely words into a pair of mittens, and mailed them to my friend’s mother. I hope the words can offer her comfort during the long cold winter.
For those interested, here is the chart for the mittens.
Tags: best of 2009, choir, knitting, mittens, pattern
