I have become increasingly interested in the imagery of margins as a means by which to conceptualize the human community. Where do we create margins, socially and spiritually speaking? Who occupies those margins? Where is the church in relationship to those margins? And, more fundamentally, where is Christ in relationship to those margins?
At any rate, in recent days, I have been wrestling with the creation of a song (which, quite frankly, is the best way to describe my songwriting process). I want the song to be an expression of my reflection on margins. Here are the lyrics that I have so far. I offer them as a prayer today.
“The One in the Margins”
Abandoned and jobless, and four months with child
Shunned by a mother who calls her “defiled”
Desperate and lonely, she prays for salvation
But a cold flow of shame is her only libation
There is another whose story I hear
She hides from her husband whose temper she fears
She never knows when the next blow will come
But refuses to leave because he owns a gun
Chorus:
Help me to see the one in the margins
Help me to know her journey’s design
Help me to be the one in the margins
Standing with her whose pain is now mine
Homeless and cold in the heart of the city
A man sits alone, and he’s hoping for pity
His begging’s a blemish, at least that’s what they say
One dollar more, and he’ll call it a day
There is another whose story I hear
Who just lost his job after twenty three years
“Thanks for your work, but we need some revising”
Such is the whimsy of corporate downsizing
Chorus:
Help me to see the one in the margins
Help me to know his journey’s design
Help me to be the one in the margins
Standing with him whose pain is now mine
I worship with passion
I pray with desire
I come to the altar
With heart set afire
But there’s a temple outside
That I often ignore
It’s a temple with margins
And a wide open door
A child in Uganda will die before long
He’s crying for food as I sing you this song
I am not he, having grown up in wealth
So why am I burdened by an African’s health?
There is another who’s sitting quite near
In the pew next to mine, his eyes filling with tears
I do not know him—Should I keep it that way?
A quick “Hey, good morning!” and “Have a nice day.”
Chorus:
Help me to see the one in the margins
Help me to know his journey’s design
Help me to be the one in the margins
Standing with her whose pain is now mine
Final Chorus:
Help me to see the Christ in the margins
Help me to know his journey’s design
Help me to be with Christ in the margins
Standing with him whose love is now mine
Naturally, I am loving this song, without the sounds of a melody! I trust you to combine the two, to perfect this song. I also love the “margin” thing that you reference. When do you find the time? Does this just roll around in that head of yours, begging to bust out in song? Count me in to being a fan of this!!!
B~
Those lyrics are so convicting, Eric. I can hear the melody through the words and they are both powerful. Sing it soon for all of us to hear.
the words are really meaningful. i would expect no less from you. you feel things so deeply and express them in a way that make a person pay atention. i am anxious to here the words and music together.