“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”
— Philippians 4:4
Years ago, I wrote a song called “Rejoice,” with the words, “We paint pictures in the world.”
I hear those words differently today. Every act of kindness, every song, every moment of forgiveness leaves a brushstroke in another person’s life.
The mystery of Easter is that Christ enters suffering and death and opens the way to resurrection. In the Orthodox Paschal hymn, He is “trampling down death by death.” Even where we see an ending, we can hold hope for renewal.
There is a resonance here with dharma’s invitation to mindful, compassionate living: pay attention to this moment and how you meet it. These traditions have distinct teachings, but that invitation helps me ask a Christian question: How can I love my neighbor, here and now?
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
— Psalm 117:24 (118:24)
Today, I can make music. Tell the truth. Offer forgiveness. Paint something loving into the world.
Here is “Rejoice,” a song I wrote and sing with a band that grew out of Another Roadside Attraction:
Band credits:
Jase Carns — songwriter and vocals
Mark Lanter — drums
Mark Kimball — guitar
Chuck Sawyer — bass
Robert Dunstan O’Neal — keyboards
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