"Occupied Childhood"
I am learning how to play the guitar (eek) and after my recent trip to Israel, I wrote this song. I am a beginner on the guitar and even more a novice singer. So I hope you graciously focus on the words to this song and not my voice!
While we were in the middle-east, we talked to many people in the trenches of the conflict. It was moving, challenging, but mostly it was confusing. But my heart really felt inclined to those who were being oppressed, particularly the children who grow up under occupation and were being groomed toward violence/prejudice/anger, etc. It put an entirely new, vivid meaning to Jesus' command - "Love your Enemy, Love your Neighbor" because for many in this area, the two are one in the same.
A profoud phrase made by a peace-making Palestinian Christian we talked to said a phrase that has been tattooed on my mind forever -- "In order to love my enemy, I have to know them first."
Love cannot love from a distance. It sits at the same table, shares the same food, walks the same mile.
Lyrics:
Occupied childhood
All guns and walls and wars
Born in anger, raised in hate
Oh, to live for something more
Holy land boxing ring
Shooting bullets for god
Peace dance on our tongues
But is far from our hearts
The more I know
The less I understand
What I thought I learned
I am learning again
(stanza borrowed from Don Henley's song "Heart of the Matter")
Love my neighbor
Love my enemy
Know my neighbor
Know my enemy
And it was in that garden
Overlooking your hills
Where Jesus wept ---
And He is weeping still
And the city of peace
Knows only pain
So Jesus come
The same way you came
Knowing your neighbor
Knowing your enemy
Walking a mile
Giving him food to eat
Loving your neighbor
Loving your enemy
Carrying his shame
Turning the other cheek
So be our peace
In the pain
To live is Christ
To die is gain
Oh, and the city of peace
Will know no pain
When Jesus comes
The same way He came
While we were in the middle-east, we talked to many people in the trenches of the conflict. It was moving, challenging, but mostly it was confusing. But my heart really felt inclined to those who were being oppressed, particularly the children who grow up under occupation and were being groomed toward violence/prejudice/anger, etc. It put an entirely new, vivid meaning to Jesus' command - "Love your Enemy, Love your Neighbor" because for many in this area, the two are one in the same.
A profoud phrase made by a peace-making Palestinian Christian we talked to said a phrase that has been tattooed on my mind forever -- "In order to love my enemy, I have to know them first."
Love cannot love from a distance. It sits at the same table, shares the same food, walks the same mile.
Lyrics:
Occupied childhood
All guns and walls and wars
Born in anger, raised in hate
Oh, to live for something more
Holy land boxing ring
Shooting bullets for god
Peace dance on our tongues
But is far from our hearts
The more I know
The less I understand
What I thought I learned
I am learning again
(stanza borrowed from Don Henley's song "Heart of the Matter")
Love my neighbor
Love my enemy
Know my neighbor
Know my enemy
And it was in that garden
Overlooking your hills
Where Jesus wept ---
And He is weeping still
And the city of peace
Knows only pain
So Jesus come
The same way you came
Knowing your neighbor
Knowing your enemy
Walking a mile
Giving him food to eat
Loving your neighbor
Loving your enemy
Carrying his shame
Turning the other cheek
So be our peace
In the pain
To live is Christ
To die is gain
Oh, and the city of peace
Will know no pain
When Jesus comes
The same way He came
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