Sunday, February 1, 2009

Optimism: For Those Tears I Died



After my first year of college (71 to 72), a high school acquaintance approached me with a travel offer. He was looking for someone who wanted to spend the summer traveling up the West Coast. After some conversation, I bought a four-man tent, he got permission to use a family car, and our trip began.

We started in Anaheim, California (think Disneyland), and made it as far north as Nanaimo, British Columbia. We spent a full month making the trip.




About three days into the trip, we were camping in Carpinteria (think Santa Barbara). The state park was full, so we were in a fairly nice private campground. In the late afternoon, I joined in a volleyball game with some other college-aged kids that were in the campground. They invited me to a campfire time that they were planning for after dinner.



I went over, and I learned that they were from the Goleta Baptist Church youth group. During the campfire someone performed a song called “For Those Tears I Died.” I was touched.

The song presented Jesus Christ as if he were 1) alive, 2) cared about the songwriter’s tears, 3) was capable of personally interacting with an individual.

This was all news to me. I marveled at the song’s concepts and at the inclusionary behavior of this youth group. On the volleyball court and in their campfire time they practiced what they preached. But they didn’t even preach, they just sang.

Songs stick. I’ve often looked back on that weekend as a turning point, or at least a vista point in life. A personal God, who cared about people, who cared about me, my problems, even my tears. Wow. How inspiring!



Here is the song. (Written by Marsha Stevens and released on Children of the Day’s 1971 album Come to the Waters.)

Here are the lyrics:

For Those Tears I Died

You said You'd come and share all my sorrows,
You said You'd be there for all my tomorrows;
I came so close to sending You away,
But just like You promised You came there to stay;
I just had to pray!

And Jesus said, "Come to the water, stand by My side,
I know you are thirsty, you won't be denied;
I felt ev'ry teardrop when in darkness you cried,
And I strove to remind you that for those tears I died."

Your goodness so great I can't understand,
And, dear Lord, I know that all this was planned;
I know You're here now, and always will be,
Your love loosed my chains and in You I'm free;
But Jesus, why me?

And Jesus said, "Come to the water, stand by My side,
I know you are thirsty, you won't be denied;
I felt ev'ry teardrop when in darkness you cried,
And I strove to remind you that for those tears I died."

Jesus, I give You my heart and my soul,
I know that without God I'd never be whole;
Savior, You opened all the right doors,
And I thank You and praise You from earth's humble shores;
Take me, I'm Yours.

And Jesus said, "Come to the water, stand by My side,
I know you are thirsty, you won't be denied;
I felt ev'ry teardrop when in darkness you cried,
And I strove to remind you that for those tears I died."


7 comments:

  1. that's a great song.

    I just finished reading "The Shack" which presents the Holy Spirit as someone who collects tears. Beautiful picture

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  2. Ahhh, God's perfect timing. Isn't it wonderful how He works in our lives. Nice song.

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  3. I sat down at the piano and this song started to play through my fingertips. A song from my childhood that I needed now. I came to this site and found all the words. What a comfort. Thank you.

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  4. You're very welcome. ;-)

    I'm glad you found the site, the song, and the comfort.

    Don

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  5. I remember you and Nick staying with us for a few days that summer. I remember asking youif you had a relationship with the Lord, and you said, I think, that is was funny that I should bring it up for the reason that you had a couple encounters with people on your trip who had talked to you about that relationship. It seems that you said that it sounded like something good but you didn't know enough about it to say say anything. But something in the tone of your voice made me think that you were on the way.
    We (you and Nick, Kathie, and Nanci, and I) also went to the county fair where Nick almost got sick on "The Hammer" ride.

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  6. You came just as I was getting over the flu, and I (being an irresponsible 20 yr. old) fudged a couple more days to see you and go the the fair.

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  7. Dennis: I'm surprised by the things I remember, and the things I don't. I do remember going to the fair. (I went on the Ferris Wheel.) I just had not placed it on that trip. Thanks.

    Don

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