Of Prison & Cross Stitch

Here are two copies of the same music book. It is, without question, the best music book I have ever owned.

The one on the right is brand new.  I just got it in the mail today.

The one on the left has gotten me through weddings, funerals, revivals, last-minute specials, vocal competitions, music classes, vocal lessons, choir numbers, campmeetings, conferences, thousands of miles of travel, and hundreds of churches and women’s prisons.  If you’ve ever heard me sing more than one song, I can almost guarantee I used this songbook.  If I’ve accompanied you in a song, we probably used this book to transpose it to a better key.  Private vocal students, music class attendees, and choir members under my direction have benefited from it’s versatility. 

Only a third of the binding remains.  It’s arranged alphabetically—the a’s, y’s and z’s have been missing for years; the b’s and w’s have left a trail from West Virginia to Texas.   The pages are yellowed and stained, the edges are curled.  To be honest, the CDC could probably have a heyday with the germs it has sustained from so many cold and flu seasons.

This book has been a real friend to me, and has gotten me out of more than one jam.  So after 25 years, and with so many pages missing, it is time for a new copy. I’ve put off getting a new one for years.  For a while I couldn’t find it anywhere; I thought it was out of print.  Finally, through the miracle of Amazon, I have a replacement….and I can’t bring myself to open it.

It seems silly to get sentimental over a song book, I know.  And I’ll get over it the first time I decide to sing a song out of the A or Y section.

But on this dawning of a new year, I can’t help but draw a comparison between how this book has served me and how I have served my own Master.  Have I been available and convenient for His use?  Am I willing to be used up simply for the joy of serving Him?  Am I willing to have my edges curled, my binding pulled, my notes adjusted—all for the furtherance of the Gospel?

My book has been in some pretty incredible meetings.  It’s been present at the salvation of a lot of souls.  In all, it’s seen more than a book could wish for.

I sure hope I can be as good of a vessel for my Master’s use.

I firmly resolve that in 2013….

I will not make my resolutions public.

Regarding “The Best of Temptations: Christmas”

Through the magic of Pandora, I just discovered that The Temptations recorded a Christmas album.  Who knew?  Unfortunately, the song that played was their rendition of Silent Night.

Some things are better left UN-done.

I think this album cover proves my point.

Regarding “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”

I’d sing this song to my family, but I’m afraid they’ll take the “please have snow” line too seriously.

Regarding “Winter Wonderland”

I don’t know anyone who sings the correct lyric on the second verse.  We all think it goes, “Later on, we’ll perspire as we sit (or sweat) by the fire….”

Regarding “Adeste Fideles”

When I sing along, it comes out like this:

“Adeste Fideles, Lady Cleopatra…”