You'll Never Walk Alone
This morning I glanced at the newspaper and there it was. There's no denying it now. Our county's first COVID-19 death occurred two days ago. The virus lurks among us. And yet, all I had to do was hear the title above read from a musicians' web site, and I felt safe! Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical, Carousel, opened on Broadway, April 19, 1945. Although a tawdry story line surrounded it, "You'll Never Walk Alone" lifted the show's depressive narrative to make Carousel Richard Rodgers' favorite and "the best musical of the 20th century." (TIME Magazine) The song is sung by mass choruses of soccer fans on matchdays around the world. A pantheon of vocal entertainers including Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Andy Williams, and Glenn Campbell have recorded it. Operatic soprano, Renee Fleming sang it at the inauguration of Barack Obama, January 20, 2009. "You'll Never Walk Alone" has rapidly become the world-wide anthem to show support for and encouragement to medical staff, first responders, and all of us under restrictions or in quarantine because of the 2019-20 coronavirus pandemic. Here are the lyrics: When you walk through a storm hold your head up high And don't be afraid of the dark.
At the end of a storm there's a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark.
Walk on through the wind, Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown.
Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone, You'll never walk alone.
Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart And you'll never walk alone, You'll never walk alone. But, at its best, "You'll Never Walk Alone" is a hymn of promise from a God of love. Ancient David expresses it this way: "He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me...Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever." (Psalm 23, New Living Translation) Just below is a link to an unforgettable performance of "You'll Never Walk Alone" by Andrei Rieu's orchestra and guests in Maastricht, Netherlands in 2013. Your tears will splash even higher if you hear it as God's promise to you in this pandemic!
"I am the Lord, and I lead you along the right path...we will walk together." (Hosea 14:9, Contemporary English Version)
God wants nothing more than to walk with you,
