The Music & the Spoken Word broadcast airs live via TV, radio, and internet stream on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. mountain time. For information on other airtimes, visit “Airing Schedules” at musicandthespokenword.org.

This is an encore performance of Music & the Spoken Word specially selected while the Choir is practicing social distancing.

Music

Conductors: Mack Wilberg and Ryan Murphy
Organist: Brian Mathias
Announcer: Lloyd Newell

“Let All the World in Every Corner Sing”
Music: Ryan Murphy
Lyrics: George Herbert

“Morning Has Broken”¹
Music: Gaelic melody
Lyrics: Eleanor Farjeon
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg

“In the Garden”²
Music and lyrics: C. Austin Miles
Arrangement: Ryan Murphy

“Marche Militaire” (organ solo)
Music: Franz Schubert

“Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz
Music: Harold Arlen
Lyrics: E. Y. Harburg
Arrangement: Arthur Harris

“How Firm a Foundation”³
Music: Attributed to J. Ellis
Lyrics: Attributed to Robert Keen
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg

1 On the CD Consider the Lilies and in the CD set Encore Collection.
2 On the CD He Is Risen.
3 On the CD Called to Serve and in the CD set The Missionary Collection.

The Spoken Word

Of Bridges and Transitions

Life is often compared to a pathway. And, as most of us know by experience, that pathway is rarely smooth and straight. Rather, it takes us on a journey of peaks and valleys, twists and turns. Some of these are expected: Childhood passes into youth. Youthful life evolves into adulthood and, eventually, into life’s twilight. We know these changes are coming, and we can prepare ourselves to transition from one stage to another.

Other transitions are less predictable. We might transition from being single to married, from unemployment to a steady job, from health to chronic illness, or any of these in reverse. We know that life’s path must take us through such changes; otherwise we will never really go anywhere. Still, it can be hard to transition from the familiar to the unknown.

A young man and his father took an adventurous hike in a remote mountainous area. At one point their path brought them to a wide, deep chasm. The only way forward was to cross a long suspension bridge. At first they were hesitant. Was the bridge safe? But then they saw the firm anchors on either side and the strong cables that held the span in place. Seeing the strength of the bridge and knowing that many others had gone this way before them, they confidently crossed the chasm and continued their journey.

If we want to safely cross the bridges that span from one stage of life to another, we need secure anchors and strong connections. We can be anchored by values that do not shift with the times, by truth that does not sway in the winds of change. Connections with family, friends, and mentors will give us confidence that we can make lasting and meaningful progress in our transitions through life. Perhaps no anchor is stronger, no connection more important, than our relationship with the divine and our trust in heaven’s help.

No matter the transitions we must make, no matter the bridges we must cross, if we are anchored in truth and connected to those who love and support us, we can rest assured that we will arrive safely on the other side.