Songs in My Head

A funny thing happened this morning when I first woke up.  My typical thing is to assess what kind of night I had.  How long did I sleep/lay awake?  How many times did I get up to go to the bathroom?  And then a list of what wasn’t quite right – the room was too hot/too cold, Outside noises intruded etc.etc.  And at the same time this morning, I was aware that a song was going through my head and the line that kept repeating was “ere I forget all the joy that is mine today!”  YES!!  What a message from my subconscious.  It is all too easy for me to focus on what is wrong or might be wrong, or was wrong… and to forget “all the joy that is mine today”!! 

Aren’t our minds a store of lovely tricks! 

My mind offers up, unbidden, that particular line from that particular song.  I think maybe my mind does that often but I don’t notice it – or stop to see if there is a MESSAGE in that line.  I am often aware that songs are playing almost beneath my consciousness in my head.  And I do love this particular song.  I’m not aware of having heard it recently.  So, how did my mind come up with this cogent message?  Who knows?  But I’m willing to listen!  I’m willing to grasp at most any beautiful straw! 

I often remind people of the phrase “Joy is also a spiritual practice”.  I (and others I know) often feel like a spiritual practice has to be a bit of a “duty”.  Sit on that cushion, Write in that journal.  And those are important things to do.  But it is also our “difficult duty” (as John Ruskin once said) to find delight.  “The difficult duty of delight”.  I want to remember that it is my duty to be delighted.  Not only to be delighted, but to look for delight.  Not to ignore the tears and fears – but also not to ignore the joy!  And I mean to definitely pay attention to the songs that run through my head – the underscore of my day.  What does the music that randomly comes to mind mean?  In fact, I no longer think that such music is random.   I think it is our deepest soul trying to deliver a message in a gentle musical way!  Happy singing

"Today". – By Randy Sparks

Today while the blossoms still cling to the vine,I'll taste your strawberries, I'll drink your sweet wine.A million tomorrows shall all pass away, 'ere I forget all the joy that is mine, today.I'll be a dandy and I'll be a rover, you'll know who I am by the songs that I sing.I'll feast at your table, I'll sleep in your clover, who cares what tomorrow shall bring?Today while the blossoms still cling to the vine,I'll taste your strawberries, I'll drink your sweet wine.A million tomorrows shall all pass away, 'ere I forget all the joy that is mine, today.I can't be contented with yesterday's glory, I can't live on promises winter to spring.Today is my moment, and now is my story, I'll laugh and I'll cry and I'll sing.Today while the blossoms still cling to the vine,I'll taste your strawberries, I'll drink your sweet wine.A million tomorrows shall all pass away, 'ere I forget all the joy that is mine, today.’