It's british song writer Graham Nash that has softened the rough edges of Crosby, Still, Nash and Young. He is the hopeless romantic of the band. It's his gentle and contemplative ballads about life, love and the human condition that has won him a place in hundreds of thousands of hearts throughout the world. Not that he isn't capable or rocking your socks off. It's just that his soft songs have a very loud presence. "Lady of the World", "Teach your Children" "Just a song before I Go" and "Our House" these songs have taken up a place in the hearts not just in the generation that was being sung to, but in subsequent generations as well. These songs have stood the test of time and are being played today by a whole new generation of people. "Our House" made it to number 30 in the US charts in 1970, but can often by heard on the radio today. It is a song that has featured in a number of Adverts on TV. "Out House" was included in the 1970 Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young album "Deja Vu"
The song originates in a domestic event that took place while Graham Nash was living with Joni Mitchell (and her two cats) in her house on Laurel Canyon (Los Angeles), after they had gone out for breakfast and had bought an inexpensive vase on Ventura Boulevard. Graham Nash wrote the song in an hour, on Mitchell's piano.
I'll light the fire
You place the flowers in the vase
That you bought today
Staring at the fire
For hours and hours while I listen to you
Play your love songs all night long
For me, only for me
Come to me now
And rest your head for just five minutes
Everything is done
Such a cozy room
The windows are illuminated by the evening
Sunshine through them, fiery gems
For you, only for you
Our house is a very, very, very fine house
With two cats in the yard
Life used to be so hard
Now everything is easy 'cause of you
And our
La-la, la-la-la la la...
Our house is a very, very, very fine house
With two cats in the yard
Life used to be so hard
Now everything is easy 'cause of you
And our
I'll light the fire
While you place the flowers in the vase
That you bought today
There are an awful lot of great rock-n-roll songs about going home ... "Homeward Bound" is one that comes to mind by Simon and Garfunkel. Bruce Springsteen's "My Hometown" is another. But what happens once you have got there? Is you home just a place to eat and sleep in or is it more than that. A true refuge, a place to live in relationship, a shelter, a place that brings comfort and peace. Is it a place where you return to again and again to recharge you batteries, refuel you engine, spend time with you significant others, to create, to re-create. We live in such a fast paced life, so much so that we are in danger of missing what the idea of a home really is. Often our homes resemble the Ikea catalogue or an Ideal Homes exhibition stand. We are at times far removed from the idea of a home that shelters us for long periods of our lives. In another age it was much more acceptable for generations of the same family not only to jointly occupy a house but also that a house would be passed down to future generations. People would often live and die in the same house. That seems of continuity, familiarity and interconnectedness all too often gets lost in our modern day mobile society.
Our society abounds with says about our primary dwelling place "Home is where the heart is" and "A man's home is his castle" "Home sweet home" is another saying that is often used. "Wherever I lay my hat is home" and often also "A House is not a home" It's this last sentiment that Graham Nash in his lyrics "Our House" He celebrates the simplest of trappings. A happy home, pets in the yard, flowers in a vase, a roaring fire in the fireplace. But the pinnacle of this for Nash is sharing this with someone else. Companionship is what he is driving at.
There are many places that the one who has no where to lay his head found a home and companionship. In a general way Jesus found a home with sinners and publicans. He often visited with people and shared food and a place to sit, talk, sleep. (Mark 2:15-17, Matthew 9:9-11, Luke 7:34, Luke 15:1-32,) More particularly Jesus lived in close companionship with Martha, Mary and Lazarus in their home in Bethany - (Luke 10:38-42, John 11:1-44, John 12:1-8) The New Testament shows Jesus sharing in companionship with certain key people in their own homes. The Home itself is such a symbol of sharing and companionship throughout the New Testament. It's in the home that Jesus appears in after he is resurrected. It's the home that the early church pray in together with women present. It's the home that the Holy Spirit fills on the day of pentecost. Exploring this in more detail would be good but time and space constrains us to a simple reflection. Maybe another time.
Perhaps one of the most precious descriptions of the home is in John 14:2 "In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?" Jesus talks about companionship with God and how he will provide for us a room in the house of his father. Sadly, this verse is more often used at funerals but it has a reference to companionship, future sharing, hospitality and welcome from Jesus to us. Living in the fathers house. at home with God himself. This has echoes from the book of Revelation 21:3 "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God."
Now, being at home with God .......that's something to thing about.
No comments:
Post a Comment