Grace - Jonathan Elias (and poem by Matthew K. Wiley)

This is something of an experiment, a little different from the last video that I made (Beauty). It's both a video for a poem that I wrote, and also a video interpretation for a song, by Jonathan Elias, from an album called The Prayer Cycle. Both my poem and the song are titled Grace. :)
I found the CD for The Prayer Cycle at a pawn shop awhile back, and it's an interesting gathering of spiritually-oriented music, including from artists such as Alanis Morissette and Linda Rondstadt, though all but one of them are sung in other languages. The only one that is sung in English is this one. But the first three minutes are instrumental, while the last two are a song, sung by James Taylor.
The song is based on an old well-known prayer which goes something like this: 'Dear God, please be good to me, for the sea is so wide and my boat is so small."
Because the song doesn't start until three minutes and twenty seconds into the music, I thought I'd include my poem, along with pictures, accompanied by the instrumental lead-in, as an opening until the song begins, and then when the song begins, I accompany it with pictures. :)
This is a beautiful song, simple but profound, and I hope the poem I included in it has something to say too. :)
Also, this song has deep meaning to me, not only because of its' universal message of a cry for help, for God's help, but also because last year I almost drowned out in the ocean, when swimming, along with four young friends, but all of us somehow made it to shore alive, finding the strength to make it back... and I thanked God for helping us, for saving us, when I stumbled onto shore, and then there was this voice inside of me that said "You're welcome, my son. I love you, and I love them too." That's a very personal experience, that science can't prove, some would say, but it was very real to me...and this song is a reminder of that time...
Grace is something that we can easily take for granted, or forget, but I think it's something that's meant to amaze us, and that we should try to remember... I struggle with this, but God is still gracious, even when I struggle. :o)
I hope that this song is an encouragement to you, as it is to me. :)
And may you also find your way to the shore, and watch the sunset from the safety of solid ground... :) - Matt W.

Category:

Music

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• Grace
• Jonathan
• Elias
• James
• Taylor
• The
• Prayer
• Cycle
• Matthew
• Wiley
• Sea
• Boat
• Ocean
• Stars
• Father
• Home
• Jesus

[snowysquirrels]

I thought the music's rise and fall complemented your poem very nicely :)

And wow, what an amazing experience... to hear God's voice inside you after almost drowning.

[edwardtulane82]

@snowysquirrels ... that's why I think He gave the world the Bible, so people could have a source, or 'a voice', that they could trust for sure, and compare all of those voices they hear, outside and inside, to... it's still not easy by any means... even if we know for sure that what we hear is from God, because it lines up completely with the Bible, it's often hard knowing how to respond... but I think that He knows and understands how hard it is for us...

[snowysquirrels]

@edwardtulane82 thanks for the reply! Yeah, I totally agree with you.... I once asked one of my teachers at church for advice on how to know if I'm hearing God's voice, or some other voice... he said something to the effect of "I think you can feel it". Even so, it's still hard. :/

[edwardtulane82]

@snowysquirrels For sure. Maybe he meant that you have to walk by faith. :) And if whatever you hear lines up with the Bible, and His character that's revealed there, then there's a good chance it's from God. :) At least, that's how I try to think of it. It is hard, but I believe He knows how hard it is, and can help us. :)

[snowysquirrels]

@edwardtulane82 Probably. I also think he might have meant some sort of intuitive feeling... but still, the only one we can trust 100% is God... thank you for your suggestions. :)

[edwardtulane82]

@snowysquirrels you're welcome. :) as a side note, I struggle a lot with the Bible, reading it and understanding it. there's a lot of scary and confusing things in there, or at least that's how I see it... we need help with that too... but even though the Bible is difficult to comprehend, and sometimes even accept, certain things have jumped out at me, that have really encouraged me to keep going... things like 'the Lord is compassionate, and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love...' :)

[edwardtulane82]

@snowysquirrels Thanks :) Yeah, it's one of the most profound experiences I've had, but I think God is talking to people all the time, including me, in a lot of different ways... the hard part is in listening, remembering, being open, and discerning, and willing to respond. There's a lot of voices that people, including us, hear all the time, from outside and inside, and it's hard to tell sometimes what's from God and what isn't...

[edwardtulane82]

@keanghiero Thanks for the comment :) I'm glad you liked it :)

[keanghiero]

Nice.

I like it.

All the best

Kean