Triple C News - Sept. 23
Hey, everyone
Hope you're having the day you hoped you'd be having when you started! But if you're not, just try to keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side! Keep on the sunny side of life! It will help you every day; it will brighten all the way, if you keep on the sunny side of life!
Wait.
That's a song. I just quoted a song! An old bluegrass one!
Wow.
Where did that come from?
Oh. I know.
WE’RE HAVING OUR HOOTENANNY THIS EVENING!!
In all the preparations, my head and heart are full of bluegrass music!
In fact, seems like every year, around September, for some reason, my heart just turns to bluegrass!
I'm not sure why September is the beginning of bluegrass music season in my heart, but 'bout the time other folks' grass starts to turn brown, mine turns blue!
Maybe it's the soaring harmonies of, say, Bobby and Sonny Osborne singing' "Just A Few Old Memories" that I love so much.
And how I wish I could do that Bill Monroe yodel when he sang “Good Bye, Ol’ Pal”! (And believe you me, I've tried!)
But when you hear that drivin' Earl Scruggs banjo, isn't there a place in your soul that says, "How could people not believe in a Creator when the world is filled with amazing wonders like this?”
Do remember where you were the first time you heard Earl Scruggs play the banjo?
I bet you do!
Sometimes folks struggle with bluegrass music because they think it borders on the corny. In fact, some believe it's crossed the border and is somewhere out there in the middle of the corn field itself! Sometimes, you'd almost have to admit that some of the lyrics are so corny, while you’re singin’ ‘em, the kernels get stuck between your teeth!
But if you listen closely there’ll be a moment that is tender and sweet. And maybe even sad (which can be very sweet).
One of my all-time favs was Doc Watson, one of the greatest guitarists in the history of time! Winner of seven Grammys, Doc was completely blind before his second birthday. He inspired an entire generation of young bluegrass guitar players around the world!
Just as Doc was tiring of traveling across the nation in the 60’s and 70’s during the folk music revivals, his son Merle learned to play “just like dad” and the two circled the world together, playing everywhere and making fifteen albums!
Until Oct 23, 1985. A tractor turned over on their farm in Deep Gap, NC and Merle was in Heaven.
The best bluegrass could always be heard at a national music festival Doc hosted, named “Merlefest” after his beloved son.
In 1990, Doc recorded one of his most beautiful albums. There are only old Gospel songs on it and a few frankly are…corny!
“Oh, the Baptists go by water
and the Methodists go by land.
But But I'll tell you, my friends, if you wanna get to heaven,
well, you gotta go hand in hand!
Most of the songs are about Heaven, like…
“Uncloudy Day”
“Farther Along”..
and “The Beautiful Golden Somewhere” (Beautiful!)
And then there was one…
It’s an old song.
Maybe sung more in earlier times.
About how when a person goes to Heaven young, it’s like God is gathering unbloomed flower buds for His heavenly bouquet.
In fact, it’s called ‘Gather Buds.”
“Jesus has taken a beautiful bud,
Out of our garden of love,
Borne it away to the city of God,
Home of the angels above.”
and the chorus goes…
Gathering buds, gathering buds,
Wonderful care will be giv'n;
Jesus is gathering day after day,
Buds for the palace of heav’n.
It isn’t difficult to see how someone might think the 3/4 melody and words seem old…and some might say, even tho’ sweet…maybe antiquated.
But on the last chorus, as Doc is singing about his bud that he lost only five years before…
repeating the words…
“Gathering buds…
Gathering buds…
Wonderful care will be giv’n…”
if you listen closely…
his voice cracks.
Sometimes, if you listen closely to someone's words, you might just hear a hurt that no one else can hear but someone who listens with love. You might just see a tear that no one else sees but one who cares to see it.
When he wrote his second letter to Timothy. Paul was old, lonely, and about to face his death in prison. And at the end of it, he said…
"Do your best to come to me quickly, … When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments… Do your best to get here before winter." (2 Tim 4:9, 12,21)
"Please. I need my parchments. I need to read them. Because I'm working hard to stay encouraged…I need my coat. I'm cold. I need you. I'm lonely. Hurry. Please, Tim…"
Did you hear it?
His voice just cracked.
Almost everyone has a hurt or a sorrow or a burden to share.
Every heart needs someone who will listen.
Everyone needs a listener.
Will you be one?