We had a scrumptious dinner out on this rainy Friday night. Good food and wine, and utterly delightful company.
Earlier in the day, we set up the Christmas tree, which is our first tree together since getting married. Later in the month, for Hanuka, we will light the candles on the Menorah. Maybe this month we ought to honor Kwanza as well. In solidarity.
Upon returning home this evening, I heard about the various demonstrations around the country to protest police brutality and the killing of black men at an alarming rate (and completely disproportionate to their percentage of the general population). As I was watching demonstrations, I thought of the beautiful Sam Cooke 1964 song, "A Change is Gonna Come." It's heartbreaking that all these years later, that change is something many of us are still hoping for.
"A Change Is Gonna Come"
I was born by the river in a little tent
Oh, and just like the river I've been running ever since
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon' come, oh yes it will
It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die
Cause I don't know what's up there beyond the sky
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon' come, oh yes it will
I go to the movie and I go down town
Somebody keep telling me don't hang around
Its been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon' come, oh yes it will
Then I go to my brother
And I say, "Brother, help me please."
But he winds up knockin' me
Back down on my knees
There been times when I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon' come, oh yes it will
I was born by the river in a little tent
Oh, and just like the river I've been running ever since
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon' come, oh yes it will
It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die
Cause I don't know what's up there beyond the sky
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon' come, oh yes it will
I go to the movie and I go down town
Somebody keep telling me don't hang around
Its been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon' come, oh yes it will
Then I go to my brother
And I say, "Brother, help me please."
But he winds up knockin' me
Back down on my knees
There been times when I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon' come, oh yes it will
All of us, all of us, in big and small ways, can work for change. It starts with an open heart and a passion for justice. Hope you discover your path for change. Blessed be this crazy life, full of good and bad and everything in between.
The song that has been on my mind has been Bob Dylan's Blowin' in the Wind-- How many roads must a man walk down
ReplyDeleteBefore you call him a man?
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
Yes, how many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea?
Yes, how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
Yes, how many times can a man turn his head
Pretending he just doesn't see?
The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
Yes, how many times must a man look up
Before he can really see the sky?
Yes, how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
Your dear faces show a sustaining love. Thank you for this post with its heartfelt blessing at the end. Yes. Blessed be. I heard Bob Dylan sing "Blowin' in the Wind" as an encore to the concert in Seattle in October. As I understand it, that song was the inspiration for "A Change is Gonna Come."
ReplyDeleteHere's Sam Cooke sining " Blowin' in the Wind":
http://youtu.be/PBDdLgBO0Nw
oh, thank you for the link!
DeleteYes, it takes all of us. And I'm still a believer. You look so relaxed and happy and that makes me smile.
ReplyDeleteYou two are so cute and in love. It's a delight to see your faces. The news lately has been such a bummer, I have pretty much stopped listening.
ReplyDeleteWhat Robin says. I recognize those looks and say "hold on to it, let it grown and build the mind that will always comfort you two as one."
Delete"It starts with an open heart and a passion for justice" Exactly so!
ReplyDelete