Solstice Song

song i wrote for rachael's solstice party (video follows if i can get my computer to play well with youtube)

g d a em
g em d

when the night gets longer
my heart grows stronger
i don't have to wait for the day
when the air gets colder
my soul grows older
it's the winter, and things are okay

while we rest from the light
may our hearth glow more bright
lending warmth and courage to our space
though the wind blows like crazy
keep our dreams full and lazy
may we use this time to bring grace

the snow calls us to quiet
the darkness says we could try it
as a space for comfort and for rest
we turn our hearts to contemplation
and our lungs to respiration
as we gather warm in every nest

but we know in this season
that some have no reason
to bless the darkness or the slow;
as we open to december,
may our hearts also remember
those who shiver homeless beyond our glow

as the night gets longest
my heart beats strongest
wishing warmth for all those who mourn
in this day of longest dark
could a fire grow from a spark?
what justice in this season will be born?
what justice in this season will be born?

the most amazing thing anyone has ever done ever

So, on Friday I stopped by Lisa's room. Lisa is a cool new member of my co-op, and she had been animating on her chalkboard wall. Yes, that's right.

Anyway, we decided to make a music video of the Gentle Revolution song I wrote for Emily's birthday this spring.

Then we played with chalk for the next eight hours. While I was working my last shift at the hospital yesterday, she edited it.

I just can't say enough about how awesome this is. Basically, you have to see it for yourself. Thank you Jesus for inventing Youtube. And to Josh for recording the song. And to Lisa for making (much of) the movie.

Some of you might know that I tried to do stop-motion animation in middle school, and loved it, but had really, really crappy equipment. I've always wanted to do more. Long live my new home, where amazing stuff like this is happening all the time.

Can't stop the Spirit.

(If it doesn't work above you can go see it on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ilM0BONIgw)