Kyrie eleison:
It may or may not have been the same year
Daddy survived electric shock therapy,
that year he lived in a quiet building by water
with scratchy linens and locked windows
and a special room where people did crafts,
the year I was 7 or 8 years old,
when I first spoke Greek.
It happened by way of a song. Old enough
to stand beside Mom in church,
entrusted with one side of the red hymnbook,
ancient words in a magical language
rose around us: Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison—
Lord, have mercy, Christ have mercy.
It’s all I can think of today.
I’ve turned off ongoing footage of catastrophe, heartbreak and accusations, nuclear stand-offs, and always, always, the endless spin.
Not that I want escape. Well, maybe, a little.
I need to re-position myself squarely, silently, in God’s presence.
Out of stillness comes a memory of classes taken.
For the student of Mime, the first key position is Neutral. Neither rigid, sloppy, nor static, it’s a posture of yielded, relaxed, absolute readiness. The whole being is poised. Alert. Balanced.
Neutral is the springboard for any initial gesture. A launch pad for the slightest expression. Action. Story.
I must keep returning to temporary neutral. I need a larger perspective, a longer view. A sense of how God wants me to respond as I go along. There’s a road that I am traveling.
You have one too.
As Mr. Mister famously sang, back in the ’80s: “Kyrie eleison on this road that I must travel.” (link below)
Not resignation, but rather, responsiveness.
Not apathy, but radical, trusting attention.
And then—shock therapy—as I’m writing this post my screen alerts me to a high school shooting today: 3 injured, one dead, the killer in custody. In a town of barely 500 people—not far from mine.
Lord, have mercy!
Words fail us. Fate laughs. Logic shrugs and turns its back.
In times like these, music can help us keep our hearts open, empathic. It helps us pray.
Below are my favorite Kyrie versions, in multiple genres, some with visuals. Please experience several (use the back arrow at the top of your screen to return to the post for more links).
And … can we start a Playlist? Leave a title and/or link in the comments below and tell us your go-to music when life falls apart. I’ll create a Playlist and post it.
Meanwhile, here’s a springboard prayer:
Cupped in our hands, held in our minds and our hearts,
here, and now, Merciful God who encompasses all,
here is what we can barely hold:
Eric Lagerstrom: stunning music, photos (some of them wrenching)
My favorite today, click arrow below, static image, birdsong, strings
Gospel choir, outstanding soloist, easy to sing along
Static snow scene, acoustic folk, Isaac Wardell
Korean Children’s Choir, World Vision, haunting A cappella
Choral version, underscores compelling abstract paintings by Natalia Rudzina
Taizé, international gathering of believers
Exciting, Mr. Mister, ’80s soft rock plus onstage/offstage video
Interactive prayer for mercy and protection
Please share title and/or link for your go-to music. It’s one more way we keep each other strong.
You have such a great heart. And you always get me in touch with my own heart. Thank you for this post. A favorite song of mine is “God bless the broken road that led me back to you.”
Gena, thank you, dear friend, for your kind words, and for this song recommendation. I’ve added it to our community list and know others will appreciate discovering it or hearing it again. Love you!
I have not had time to read too many blog posts for a while (intense & consuming new job), but so thankful I read yours today, Laurie. The concept of returning to neutral just feels so right today. Thank you.
My “go to” song for helping me return to a neutral & refreshed space is “How Great Thou Art.” I also resonate with Fernando Ortega’s music and 2nd Chapter of Act’s music.
Carol, congrats on the new job! So much change. I’m grateful the idea of returning to neutral resonates with you. I feel like I need to do so every hour. Now, if I can just remember!
I’ll add your title to the list. A stellar hymn for all time. Thanks, Carol.
Music often soothes my soul. That Gregorian chant accompanied by birds is just such music! Thank you, Laurie, for sharing. I would add Total Praise by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. It’s an old song now (from the 1990s, I think), but lifts my spirit every time. Here’s the link to one sample on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCsJyzm83W0. P.S. Coincidentally, I used the imagery of cupped hands in my post for this week. I feel so honored that my thoughts crossed paths with yours on that phrase! 🙂
Oh Nancy, I’ve not heard this before. So stirring! I’m feeling “lifted” too, right here at my keyboard. Thank you so much. Adding this to the Playlist.
Music and song save me on a regular basis…that and the Psalms. Second Chapter of Acts (or maybe it was Matthew Ward alone) sang a round of Kyrie Elieson, which is how I first discovered the phrase. Chilling.
I’ve had “Sing Alleluia” on my mind by Fernando Ortega. It’s from the Odes of Solomon. Makes we nearly weep every time. Thank you for the nudge Laurie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-czywU7xnM
Jody, I know what you mean. Ortega’s music has bowled me over many a time. Mental soundtrack of Second Chapter and Matthew Ward solo automatically triggered within when I read your words. Where would we be—especially in times like these—without the minstrels?! Off to listen to Fernando . . .
Sandi Patty – Artist of My Soul, In Heaven’s Eyes
Stuart Townend – In Christ Alone
Hillsong – The Potter’s Hand
Tommy Walker – Break Through
Kathleen, thank you for sharing these titles. A few are new to me and I’m already grateful for what I’m about to discover in tracking them down. Blessings on you!
Music changes the light in the room. Even Unto Death by Audrey Assad, this song is bedrock.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAfp8vg4Jz8
Even Unto Death was written in response to the martyrdom of coptic Christians in Egypt in 2015. Assad feels we should be not just pray for the martyrs but pray with them. This is them and her in prayer to our Savior.
Here is a link to the song with her explanation interspersed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUYnTEBWqj4
Susan, thank you so much for this. The song is new to me. As I watched and listened I felt wordless and wrung out and hopeful and humbled and scared and grateful all at the same time.
Be Magnified
My personal favorite version from ALL MY DAYS, with Gena Bradford singing the solo.
I have made you too small in my eyes, O Lord forgive me….
For years, decades now, this song, these words, have been glue for my soul, life when my heart had become weary
Thank you for sharing and inviting us to “struggle well together”
Roberta, thank you for reminding me of “Be Magnified.” Powerful song. The kind of “glue” I could use right now. I haven’t sung it in a long while. High time I sang it again!
I’ll make sure Gena reads your comment. Lynn DeShazo enriched us all when she gave us those words, that music.