“Parting Glass”
Of all the money ere I had, I spent it in good company,
And all the harm I’ve ever done, alas was to none but me.
And all I’ve done for want of wit, to memory now I can’t recall.
So fill me to the parting glass, goodnight and joy be with you all.
If I had money enough to spend and leisure time to sit awhile,
There is a fair maid in this town who sorely has my heart beguiled.
Her rosy cheeks and ruby lips, I own she has my heart in thrall.
So fill me to the parting glass – goodnight, and joy be with you all.
Of all the comrades ere I had, they’re sorry for my going away,
And all the sweethearts ere I had , they wish me one more day to stay,
But since it falls unto my lot that I should go and you should not,
I’ll gently rise and softly call, goodnight and joy be with you all.
Scottish Traditional Ballad, curated in 1770, but older in origin
Dear God, human sentimentality is a curious but beautiful thing. I came across this video from nine years ago this afternoon. It’s my wife’s cousin paying tribute to his father on the day of his funeral. Humans are just capable of so much love and appreciation for each other. It must be just a taste of what you have for us. It’s a part of us that is like your image, but we are a mere reflection–an often poor reflection–of how you feel.
What is it that steals this love and affection we have for each other? It’s often self-pity, I suppose. A feeling that our rights were somehow violated. I think about the people in my life who refuse to show me mercy, and I think that would be part of their story towards me. They feel that I somehow violated their rights and wronged them, and to some extent I did. There’s frankly really nothing I can do about those mistakes I made. It’s sad to me that those mistakes have nullfied the good I did. In retrospect, I even question if they can articulate the mistakes I made. What exactly is it they are angry about? Yet, they feel wronged. Their rights were violated. Pity should be extended to them and vengeance against me is theirs. No mercy. No, not any.
But this song and the spirit that drove it’s writing hundreds of years ago, is just great because it shows an appreciation of life. Of the lives of others and of one’s own life. And we only get so much time in this phase of life. I am pryerful that those who resent me will be able to be with me for eternity, and all of this pain in this life won’t matter anymore.
Father, I’m reminded of a line from Rich Mullins’s “Land of My Sojourn” that says, “Nobody tells you when you get born here how much you’ll come to love it and how you’ll never belong here. So I’ll call you my country, but I’ll be lonely for my home. I wish that I could take you there with me.” While I live between the now and the not yet, help me to find peace and live in the richness of the love and sentimentality that you put into me. And help me to find the mercy you have for me to give to anyone against whom I’m still holding a grudge.
I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,
Amen
Emails to God 