In this Longest Night,
when warmth and promise seem far away,
and questions pour out faster than answers…
I still hear that Small Voice
that whispers, “stay near to Me… I am here.”
There is a soft echo of Peace and Hope and Joy and Love
and it hums in my heart of hearts…
Be still.. hear the angels’ song comforting and holding you…
I invite you to listen to this heart-soaring setting of James Agee’s poem Sure on This Shining Night:
Sure On This Shining Night by Morten Lauridsen
Sure on this shining night of star-made shadows round, kindness must watch for me this side the ground, on this shining night, this shining night. Sure on this shining night of star-made shadows round, kindness must watch for me this side the ground, on this shining night, this shining night. The late year lies down the north All is healed, all is health High summer holds the earth, hearts all whole The late year lies down the north All is healed, all is health High summer holds the earth, hearts all whole Sure on this shining night, sure on this shining, shining night Sure on this shining night I weep for wonder wand'ring far alone Of shadows on the stars Sure on this shining night, this shining night On this shining night, this shining night Sure on this shining night
An Unfinished Symphony 
Deb, this touches me deeply. I’d never heard of Morten Lauridsen until my younger sister died last February. Apparently, she loved his music,, having said, “This must be what heaven sounds like.” (I was told this second-hand.”) Julie had gone to a concert at Wheaton College to hear him in person. Only she didn’t get to. She dropped dead of an apparent heart attack in a restroom there, 2 hours before the concert started. She had gone alone, so no one witnessed what happened; hence, the police were involved. After all the forensics and samples (no autopsy), it was decided that was what happened. Nearly a month later, she was flown home to St. Louis, where her visitation & funeral were held, at the same time COVID burst into our world. We had Laurtisen’s CD playing in the background for the visitation. So, 24 hours after the Longest Night, 2020, I find this post. I’ll write those words down in memory of my younger sister (62) who hadn’t spoken to me for 40 years, imagining she now hears that concert in the company of angels.
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Oh… what heartache. I’m so sorry. Lauridsen has written one of my favorite settings of “O Magnum Mysterium” https://youtu.be/GS4_l0osCx8
There is healing in music, as it gives hearts and minds an avenue to experience healing and rest…
Sending you so much love…
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Another song you might like (different composer) that was healing for me: “Sing Me to Heaven”… (tissues alert!)
https://unfinishedsymphony.org/2020/02/19/sing-me-to-heaven/
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