bryan field mcfarland ₪ sassafrasongs: Listen

Bryan Field McFarland

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Tuning: DADGAD, Capo 4 Written in: Dale, IN 1999

Some people say they have a life coach. An eleven circuit labyrinth is mine. I began walking/praying the labyrinth when I was the pastor of Dale Presbyterian Church in Dale, IN. It became my tool of choice for spiritual direction.

The first two verses are about my experience walking/praying the labyrinth.

The third verse contains an actual quote of a boy at a Music-Art-Drama (MAD) camp I shepherded in Cedar Ridge Camp in Louisville, KY. After he read for me the first poem he'd ever written he excitedly shared that he wanted to "get life all over him." And then he ran off.

The labyrinth helps me "get life all over me" while simultaneously assisting me in the shucking away and purging me of layers I add on top of God's gift to me.

My duet with David LaMotte at the end of this song still gives me chills.

On a labyrinth going ‘round / Listen for the sacred sound /
With the ear of your heart heed the call /
This journey of life is home / We never are alone /
Life within life / All in all /

So eastward and westward / Chanting a blessed word /
Sacred this path that we trod / Northerly, southerly /
Fatherly, motherly / Geometry’s roadmap to God /

As the strand frees and chains / Through life’s losses and gains /
All that we have is right now / It’s our thread & our theme /
Made of details & dreams / We’ll learn what we all need somehow /

Twisting & turning / Listing & learning / Walking this circle, this cross /
Growing & grieving / Loving & leaving / Finding the lessons in loss /
Putting off & putting on / Casting off & taking on / Tracing the truth & the fear / Growing through discipline / Seeking divine within / Facing our self in the mirror /

As the strand frees and chains / Through life’s losses and gains /
All that we have is right now / It’s our thread & our theme /
Made of details & dreams / We’ll learn what we all need somehow /

Once a boy said to me / “I wanna get life all over me!” /
That’s how I yet want to live / Loving with all my heart /
Finding new ways to start / Giving what’s been given me to give /

Life’s a voyage, a heritage, a passage, a pilgrimage /
There’s so much here that goes by unknown /
All that matters is who we’ve been / Being kind, honest & genuine /
And the love we’ve received & we’ve shown /

As the strand frees and chains / Through life’s losses and gains /
All that we have is right now / It’s our thread & our theme /
Made of details & dreams / We’ll learn what we all need somehow /

On a labyrinth going ‘round / Listen for the sacred sound / With the ear of your heart heed the call / This journey of life is home / We never are alone / Life within life / All in all / [fade]