andrewosenga.net

Swing Wide the Glimmering Gates

So here we are at the last of the song reviews for Letters to the Editor, Vol. 1. I have enjoyed writing my half of the ‘reviews’ and have definitely enjoyed reading Chris’ half. It has been pretty exciting as we have seen more readers make their way over here to the AO.net world and we hope that the frequent posts have been helpful and fruitful enough to keep you coming back! So now here is my last review for this record:

Swing Wide The Glimmering Gates

From the comment on Andy’s blog [here] about how great it would be to have a song with the line, “Swing Wide the Glimmering Gates,” it struck a major chord with Andy. He picked a melody for the chorus and had it stuck in his head and sang it around the house for two days, driving his wife nuts (You’ll hear Andy admit it tomorrow on the interview Chris had with him ). It stuck with him. “Swing Wide the Glimmering Gates.” It’s an action packed statement. I’ll admit, when I first read the comment I thought it was nothing too special. It did make me stop and think, putting a beautiful picture of Heaven in my mind, seeing the gates swing open wide inviting me to eternity of Joy in Christ. But I moved right on to the next comment to see what others had to say.

And when I read the tracklist for the first time and noticed that familiar line, “Swing Wide the Glimmering Gates,” I smiled. And really, for me (and, what seems to be, most others), its my favorite song on the record. It grabs me. It speaks my language. I can relate to the words and can keep listening to the tune. It hits the heart of my struggle on earth to keep and contain love. The times we feel so empty and alone are the times that will make Heaven all the more unbelievably incredible.

I think we get caught up in the snare of believing in Jesus because we’ve been told to over and over again. And we hear all the time about the faith of children. It’s so simple. So unencumbered. And we ache to believe like that again, so as to not make our faith another checklist in our busy, American life-style.

[And I feel it, I taste it
This longing to be free
Oh, the joy of believing like a child
So you, you there listening
Will you send up a prayer
For me
To help me find the light]

[Swing wide the glimmering gates]

The song speaks of hope in what is to come and how we ache for it. One day our eyes will be made wide open and we will see the glory of God. We will see what we have been aching for and what our adult minds can tend to wrap rules around. We will believe like children again.

[One day I believe
I will open up my eyes
To see the good work that was begun
And I'll be the only thing I've ever wanted to be
And I'll know that I belong]

How awesome. I am constantly encouraged by this song and I know that it will have an impact on the way I hear music for years to come. And one of the best parts about this song is that Andy had his readers record the ending background vocals, lovingly referred to as Webground Vocals®. He ties the bow on his record written with help by his readers, with the voices of his readers. Being included in something like this is very special to me, and I know it grabs the hearts of his other fans as well. Thanks for including us, Andy. We look forward to seeing what you’ve got coming up in the future .

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I caught myself
Looking in the mirror
Wishing I was someone else
Cause I was born
With a bleeding heart
And veins of loneliness

And I know it, I’ve seen it,
I’ve held it in my arms
But love can’t seem to break me down

And I’ve pleaded, I’ve begged
And I’ve bloodied my eyes
Just to feel it
To believe it will stick around

Swing wide the glimmering gates

I told myself
The habits and secrets
Were just to get me through
To get me through the nights
But I got lost
In a world of angles
In a city of greys and lies

And I feel it, I taste it
This longing to be free
Oh, the joy of believing like a child

So you, you there listening
Will you send up a prayer
For me
To help me find the light

Swing wide the glimmering gates
Leave your pride and pain
Swing wide the glimmering gates
And be innocent again

One day I believe
I will open up my eyes
To see the good work that was begun
And I’ll be the only thing I’ve ever wanted to be
And I’ll know that I belong

Swing wide the glimmering gates
Leave your pride and pain
Swing wide the glimmering gates
And be innocent again

–Song url is from a google account set up for the Square Peg Alliance Virb site–