May 16, 2008

  • MY MEMORY GOES BACK

    Just now in the tape deck is the Chuck Wagon Gang, did any of you listen to them when you was growing up, my mom had at least 50 records of theirs. I’m guessing that a lot of you have heard the song “I’ll Fly Away.” Not long ago I learned something about that song. When Albert Brumley wrote the song in the mid 40’s he tried to get different recording artists to sing it for him. No one would. Finally he ask the “Chuch Wagon Gang” if they would sing the song. They agreed to sing it on their radio brodcast (in 1948) and see how the people responded to it…. It went on to be one of the most recorded gosple songs. In 1993 when we visited “Precious Moments Chapel” in Cathridge, Missouri we got to see and hear one of Albert Brumley’s grandson’s sing several songs.

    That  time we had attended my son’s wedding in Seymore, MO. And most of the family was with us at “Precious Moments Chapel” My son all of a sudden got the idea to go to Branson to see “Shepherd of the Hills.” He said something to Pop about going along and before I barely knew what was going on, we were on our way. I wanted to see the play, but I didn’t like running off from the rest of the family. We got there just after the play had started so they let us in for half price. If you’ve ever read the book, I would say see the play if you have a chance.

    I just thought of another time (I think it was the same trip) when we was going through Arkansas. I had always wanted to see the passion play at Eureka Springs, but didn’t know if we could make connections. As it happened, we were driving through Eureka Springs about the time the play was scheduled to begin. There was a thunder storm that night, and it was a bad one. As we were driving through the town the thunder cracked LOUD and it seemed to come through my window, I could hear it plainly above the sound of the motor home. I said to Pop ‘”why don’t we go see the pasion play” just then we saw a sign that pointed to it and Pop turned up the hill we went.

    The setting of the play was in the rocks and hills of Arkansas, making the perfect place for all the scenes. We watched, very much impressed by the way it all came to life. It sent chills up my back to realize anew all that Our Lord went through because He loved us so much. About half way thru the play it started to rain, As the play went on it rained harder, and most of the people got up and left. We stayed and about the time they played the scene of the cross, burial and reserection, of course there was artifical thunder and lightning, but above that you could see real lightning, as it flashed through the night sky and hear real thunder as it broke the silence of the night with loud “thundering” cracks.

    We decided later that it was worth all the sitting on the rain soaked benches. We will never forget that night.