Last night I sat with “Calming Classical” music in the background, unwinding from an exhausting day, with only the energy to eat yogurt for dinner. Some days are like that, even some weeks. We’re reading this week about Paul with Silas and Barnabas with John Mark setting out on their second missionary journey. They kept forging on even when disappointed but I wonder if sometimes they too sat and pondered. As I remembered eating yogurt at night in my early adult years, pregnant, hot in the former famine relief camp in Kenya (milk was something we could get to make yogurt to eat!), I recognized the melody of “Kumbaya” playing in the background and it resonated with my exhaustion from the day.
According to the Internet there are two explanations of the meaning of the title. It can be a combination of Hebrew – come –by-here – but it is also traced back to being an African Spiritual first appearing around 1926. It was a top song from to the 1950s to the 90s but then came to be seen as a children’s camp song and lost popularity or was relegated to the juvenile. Being a product of the 60s, I sang that song a lot and it soothed my soul last night. My husband has Parkinson’s Disease and we are reminded daily that it is “terminal.” Each time a new symptom appears we are faced with the moral dilemma of treat the symptom that prolongs the journey with a terminal disease. At our age “terminal” is no longer a theoretical discussion for perhaps thirty years from now but a daily reality. There is no “right” answer and people live through circumstances that can feel hopeless. It is at those times that songs like Kumbaya come to mind and our heart calls out to the Holy who holds our lives.
Kum ba ya, my Lord, kum ba ya,
Kum ba ya, my Lord, kum ba ya,
Kum ba ya, my Lord, kum ba ya,
O Lord, kum ba ya.
Someone’s laughing, Lord, kum ba ya, O Lord, kum ba ya.
Someone’s crying, Lord, kum ba ya, O Lord, kum ba ya.
Someone’s praying, Lord, kum ba ya, O Lord, kum ba ya.
Someone’s singing, Lord, kum ba ya, O Lord, kum ba ya.
Kum ba ya, my Lord, kum ba ya,
Kum ba ya, my Lord, kum ba ya,
Kum ba ya, my Lord, kum ba ya,
O Lord, kum ba ya.
I have always felt that the verses circle the prayer process. Life looks ok and we sing. Troubles comes and we cry. We turn to God in prayer and seek his face. We are then able to sing again as we rest in his guidance. It’s a good song for whatever stage of life you are in and whether or not you are facing trying times. Blessings as you listen.
On the Way to Wonder 