For those experiencing “personal or political heartbreak,” Carrie Newcomer, an artist new to me, composed a song called Sanctuary that may speak to you. I connected with it. I am currently reading Parker Palmer’s life-giving book, On the Brink of Everything. This beautiful song,Sanctuary, is referenced in this book, and that’s how I found it and recently listened to it.

In the notes for The Beautiful Not Yet album, Carrie wrote this about her song,

This song was written after a conversation with my friend Parker J. Palmer. I asked him, “What can we do when we are personally or politically heartbroken?” He responded, “We take sanctuary. We gather with those we love, in places like Brown Chapel. We remember, we share stories or we sit in silence until we can go on.”

I am in a season of political heartbreak right now, and some personal heartbreak. Maybe you are, too. This song brought to mind people and places that provide sanctuary for me – a good meal shared with loved ones, the beauty of nature and cathedrals, cultivating my faith quietly, the solace I find in God, moments of solitude, and connection in my local church community. I need to be more intentional about taking sanctuary in difficult times, remembering I wasn’t made to do the hard in life alone.

Here are the lyrics. I like to read lyrics. Perhaps you do, too.

Will you be my refuge

My haven in the storm

Will you keep the embers warm

When my fire’s all but gone?

Will you remember

And bring me sprigs of rosemary

Be my sanctuary

’Til I can carry on

Carry on

Carry on

 

This one knocked me to the ground

This one dropped me to my knees

I should have seen it coming

But it surprised me

 

Will you be my refuge

My haven in the storm

Will you keep the embers warm

When my fire’s all but gone?

Will you remember

And bring me sprigs of rosemary

Be my sanctuary

’Til I can carry on

Carry on

Carry on

 

In a state of true believers

On streets called us and them

Its gonna take some time

‘Til the world feels safe again

 

Will you be my refuge

My haven in the storm

Will you keep the embers warm

When my fire’s all but gone?

Will you remember

And bring me sprigs of rosemary

Be my sanctuary

‘Til I can carry on

Carry on

Carry on

 

You can rest here in Brown Chapel

Or with a circle of friends

Or quiet grove of trees

Or between two bookends

 

Will you be my refuge

My haven in the storm

Will you keep the embers warm

When my fire’s all but gone?

Will you remember

And bring me sprigs of rosemary

Be my sanctuary

‘Til I can carry on

Carry on

Carry on

 

Where do you find sanctuary, a place of refuge or safety, when you can’t do it on your own? When the heartbreak makes it tough to get up and go on alone?

If you stop to watch the song video, may it encourage you and strengthen your heart, because maybe – just maybe – you needed this today.

Stay charming, my friends! And find sanctuary on dark days.

 

For more…The Growing Edge with Carrie Newcomer and Parker Palmer