We have good friends and neighbors who hosted Ward in a couple of house concerts where our children, in pyjamas, listened to Ward sing and play from an upstairs landing. He played at some retreats and conferences, school chapels and other concert venues here in BC. Listening to the music made me feel rather nostalgic for that time in our family life. The music and lyrics had a big influence on us, and our children as well, I believe. It’s interesting when you encounter a musician who writes out of a shared worldview. There is a resonance and truthfulness that isn’t always there in other equal or even greater musicians. It’s like he was ‘our’ musician and the songs were our songs. They ran the full gamut of the faith and life experience and it was real for us. Listen to his version of Rock of Ages or the song below made me think of the upcoming Advent season and the Kingdom dream we long for.
So Let the Time (1972 New Years’s Eve So Let the Time )
So let the time move quickly on
And let the years pass by
And I will be standing here
With wonder in my eyes
He will not judge by what he sees
Nor what his ears have heard
With justice he will treat the poor
And meek will trust his word
Where did they say a child will lead them
When the wolf is living with the lamb
Where did they say a child will lead them
When will I know who I am
No one can hurt or will destroy
This mountain of the Lord
When you can take a pruning hook
And beat it from a sword
So let the time move quickly on
And let the years pass by
And I will be standing here
With wonder in my eyes