Comments on: A Token of Friendship

By: Lanier Ivester

Lanier Ivester — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 15:37:51 +0000

Rach, I am an idiot. I just ‘got’ this.

I kept thinking it was an Aussie ode to cricket. Of all things.

Someday I am going to pen that tale. But I don’t think I could capture the glory and the angst as well as you have, my friend (in panic, crowd and confusion…) You poet, you.

By: Rachel Dettmann

Rachel Dettmann — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 01:29:36 +0000

That was the weep post (I cant listen to “Jesu..” without strong mother associations)…but this is the naughty post:

Ahem…

“We dream, disturbed
Of unexpected green and wagon widely looming… of dashing men….. how they leap…
and incredulous wrinkles peering in.
Ah….the polo loafered splendour…
inviolate until now.
Flee, we flee away
though in panic, crowd, confusion…
the freedom most obvious
is where the white ball flys.”

Lucky you that I didnt

By: Rachel Dettmann

Rachel Dettmann — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 00:48:17 +0000

I cried just now for my mother….the arms that would rock me to sleep with a small song from the French countryside.
How far the threads of our lives reach.
Mama would not have thought that her mission trip as a fifteen year old…and then a lifetime spent in humble hiddeness, in the home with numerous children, could have brought beauty to all of us as emerging young women, or through you, dear Lanier, to a wider world.
I wonder at how frequently and simply Mama would infuse beauty into our small everyday…but then she lived in awareness and adoration of one Beauty that fills the universe and permeates every corner.
She believed in a hopeful light increasing, and whenever she would discover a spark somewhere, she would delight in it like a child, and then playfully act as a mirror, loving to see God light dance across little faces and around the room.
You have reminded me again, that it is not what we say that will impact our world but our passions…what we take joy in.

It amazes me how beauty and joy do not die…..but compound….
I take hope this morning that we WILL see the triumph of Light over the darkness.
Friend you are a mirror too.

By: Elisabeth

Elisabeth — Tue, 04 May 2010 09:10:35 +0000

This comment you may want to moderate – I feel as if I’m spamming your comments! I’ve been given a sweet blog award and have to pass it on to five bloggers. I instantly thought of you, although I’m not sure blog awards are in your style. Please don’t feel any pressure to pop the award in your sidebar unless you want to do so, but consider yourself awarded anyway! Thank you so much for all the beauty and sweetness you share on your blog. You’re a wonderful blessing and encouragement!

By: Elisabeth

Elisabeth — Tue, 04 May 2010 09:01:47 +0000

Beautiful!

By: Jodi Lenz

Jodi Lenz — Tue, 04 May 2010 01:57:29 +0000

Exquisite…thank you, Lanier.

By: Lanier Ivester

Lanier Ivester — Mon, 03 May 2010 18:57:17 +0000

Wow, Josie–that was beautiful. And thank you so much for the background on the history of ‘our’ song. I am smiling at the fact that the melody is commonly attributed to Billings…our little group *loves* Billings.

By: Josie Ray

Josie Ray — Mon, 03 May 2010 08:25:32 +0000

I wondered why, after listening to Jesus, My Lord, for the rest of the day I was singing By the Waters of Babylon (of Don McLean and R. Mullins fame). It seems the melody was composed by William Billings, an American composer (1746-1800), famed for acappella rounds, and he set to it the opening of Psalm 137. (Though I did find one reference that claimed that it is commonly, yet erroneously, attributed to him, and is of unknown origin).

It is indeed a haunting melody. Here it is performed (fast-forward to about minute 7:30 on this video):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVj5s9YkE2Y&feature=related

By: Josie Ray

Josie Ray — Sun, 02 May 2010 18:01:33 +0000

p.s. It’s only one step from having lovely photos and recorded songs, as you do, to making lovely music videos. I can’t help but think that you, and perhaps some of your friends, would find great pleasure in creating something like these.

By: Josie Ray

Josie Ray — Sun, 02 May 2010 17:59:37 +0000

Lanier, thank you for another song–I do treasure these, and this one is lovely like the rest–and for a funny, charming story.

If you have time, please stop by and take a peek at three lovely music videos I posted at my blog today. They’re full of beauty, grace, womanhood, faith, and I think you could do something like these. They actually reminded me of your spirit. Well, I think you’ll see some similarities.

http://appalachiandream.blogspot.com/2010/05/too-well-kept-secret.html