Song of My Heart

In general I find it pretty easy to connect with music, but there is one particular song that I feel like I should share with everyone, especially since it is the namesake of this blog. The first time I heard it, I found myself brimming over with joy--it was like someone had taken the lyrics straight from my soul. The mountains have always been a special place to me. They represent a place where most of my closest relationships were built or strengthened, where I first began to believe that small acts of kindness from teenagers can actually change the world, and where I can best understand the majesty of God's creations on earth.

In exactly one short month I'll be making my new home in Brenton, WV and beginning my job as a construction manager for Appalachia Service Project's year-round adult program. I am nervous but excited to leave behind the normalcy of going back to school in the fall, as I have been doing for the last 16 years of my life, and begin a new adventure--far from Michigan, but in a place that I'm sure will come to feel like home.

This blog will be meant to keep those who are interested better informed about my life in rural West Virginia, especially since cell phone service in the mountains is so rare, and also to help with my own self-reflection. As I believe writing a blog did, in fact, accomplish both of these things while I was in Australia, I can only hope for the same good fortune now.

--

Walk Down This Mountain
by Bebo Norman

It's a better place
standing high upon this mountain.
I've seen your face
full of the light that only this height can show.
Blistered hand is what you've given,
but you've been given all you'll ever need to know.

So walk down this mountain
with your heart held high
follow in the footsteps of your maker
with this love that's gone before you
and these people at your side.
If you offer up your broken cup
you will taste the meaning of this life.
Hey, Hey.

Well it's a common ground
and I see you're all still standing.
But just look around and you'll find
the very face of God.
He's walking down into the distance,
he's walking down to where the masses are.

So walk down this mountain

with your heart held high

follow in the footsteps of your maker

with this love that's gone before you

and these people at your side.

If you offer up your broken cup

you will taste the meaning of this life.

Hey, Hey.

We're standing in a place of peace,

and this is how the world should be.