Amazing Drag

Until a few years ago, Amazing Grace had virtually no impact on me.  What little it did was mostly negative.

Then along came a play by the same name, a musical loosely based on the life of John Newton who, as a young adult, followed in his father’s footsteps as a slave trader.

While the play was just “okay”, Monika and I did learn that Newton later turned to the Lord and began a new and prosperous career as a preacher. As part of his transformation, he and William Walker composed “Faith’s Review and Expectation,” later to be renamed Amazing Grace.  The year was 1779, and their song remains the English-speaking world’s best-known Christian hymn. It’s also one I continue to dread.

When do you mostly hear Amazing Grace?  At funerals, right? It’s as if a lesser known but still long-ago pastor once said on the eve of a service: “What if there isn’t enough crying tomorrow?  Then what do we do? People will think we’re failures!”  Just then, a young seminarian volunteered: “Hey, have any of you dudes heard that hot new single, Amazing Grace?  How cool would it be if we use that to wrap things up…not just tomorrow, forever!”

Something like that must have taken place because, to me, Amazing Grace remains an amazing drag.  Pick a funeral, any funeral. There I am, sitting in my pew, looking and acting appropriately solemn, when the organ creeps to life. Up next, and ready to whip up a sob fest, is the church choir master.  She volunteered for the job after graduating 76^th in music school from a class of 14.

To help prove my “it’s a drag” point, consider the first verse:

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found
T’was blind but now I see

On second thought, put those tissues down for just a second because I actually find those lyrics inspiring.  You know, like “be the scum bag you were meant to be, but even for you there’s hope!”  So what’s there to cry about?  Hmm, maybe the second verse holds the secret.

T’was Grace that taught my heart to fear
And Grace, my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

Stop the presses, there’s nothing sad about that.  In fact, I feel a wave of fellowship washing over me.  I guess that means it’s verse three that makes everyone all weepy.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
We have already come.
T’was grace that brought us safe thus far
And grace will lead us home

Nope, that doesn’t sadden me either. So now I look around and realize I’m still at the funeral with the organist, vocalist, and congregation droning on in dirge-like fashion.  What am I missing?! Or, more to the point, what are they missing?

The answer finally arrived in 1994 with the release of Maverick (starring Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster).  But since I never saw the movie, it wasn’t until many years later that I uncovered the heart and soul of Amazing Grace…right around the time Monika and I saw the play.  To put it simply, the song – performed as I believe it was meant to be – is beautiful, uplifting and has the power to heal.  No joke.

In fact, do yourself a favor and listen to the Maverick Choir bring Amazing Grace to life.  But first, put on your best head phones or ear buds and blast the volume.

THAT’S Amazing Grace – the exact version I insist be played at my funeral, even if my family needs to rent a saloon for the occasion.  On the other hand, I hope to be busy writing a new blog that day. Amazingly not present at said funeral.