We've Only Just Begun
by Marilyn Mackenzie
March 29, 2002
Funny. As I sat at my writing place this
morning thoughts of something I'd read
recently kept interrupting my thought process
Ah well. I had to succumb to the urge to
write about that which I had read. Sometimes
my thought process evolves better while writing
than while merely thinking.
What I read was a suggestion that each of us
make a musical CD recording of our lives, 90
minutes of music representing who we are or
each stage or phase of our lives. What a
concept.
I wonder if there is any music to represent
my beginning. Baby Girl Mackenzie was born
on April 13, 1952, on Easter Sunday, to two
rather pale individuals, of German and Scottish
heritage. Shortly after her birth, this chalky
white baby with blue eyes and blonde hair so
light that it was barely visible was placed
in the arms of a darker woman with olive skin,
dark hair and dark eyes, perhaps of Italian or
Spanish heritage. Said woman was not the
brightest person, and noticed not that the
baby she place at her breast was not the same
one she had cuddled earlier, the one with dark,
thick hair and dark eyes. Baby Girl Mackenzie's
mother noticed, though, and screamed loudly,
"That's my baby!" My world could have
been a different one if the switch had not
been so obvious to my mother. Yes, I wonder
if there is a musical score to represent that
beginning.
I wonder as well if there is any music to
indicate how shy I was as a child, always
clinging to my mother's skirts. Or of how
afraid I was of talking to strangers and
friends alike, and also feared anything new.
As a preschooler, my mother and I sat in
front of the television, daily, as we worked
on lessons of drawing and cutting. The
projects we made were part of the "Charming
Children" program. I remember, barely, some
snippets of that time with my mom. But I do
remember looking up at her and seeing love
in her eyes. That time together while my
infant brother was sleeping was our time,
and how special it was. As part of our
"Charming Children" experience, I got to
be on television once. I remember being
dressed in a white sweater and red plaid,
wool pleated skirt. It was, after all,
fall or early winter, and the time for such
clothes. But the TV studio lights were
so hot that I wished I were dressed in a
sun dress, or better still a bathing suit.
I wonder if there is any music that can
help recall that special time.
Did you know that before Fred Rogers became
Mr. Rogers in his PBS show, he worked the
puppets for Josie Carey at WQED in Pittsburgh
on a show called "The Children's Corner"? I
believe it was a national show for only one
year. My mother and I can still sing some
of the songs that Fred Rogers and Josie
Carey sang together on that show. The
characters were the same - Daniel Tiger,
Henrietta Pussycat. But back then, Mr.
Rogers was a behind the scenes person and
not out in the spotlight. I wonder if it
might be possible to find recordings of the
music my mother and I still break out into,
while the rest of the family watches us in
disbelief? "I give a hoot for you..."
Or, "this has been such a day. I was
walking on my way. I saw an owl in a
tree. He smiled and gave a hoot for me.
I found The Children's Corner."
There are probably some classical pieces
and show tunes that I should include in
my musical diary to remind me of the time
I spent playing the violin. Not only was
I in the school orchestra, but in All City
Orchestra as well. From 2nd grade to
high school, I carried my violin back
and forth from home to school, being
subjected often to ridicule for my choice
of instruments. In 9th grade, our school
choir and orchestra performed "My Fair Lady."
We were really quite good, performing the
entire musical score. Some of those tunes
should be a part of my musical diary.
Later, of course, there were plenty of
tunes - rock and roll songs - that remind
me of my pre-teen and teen years. There
are songs that make tears well up in my
eyes as I remember a past love and others
that remind me of being a part of a church
youth group, and I smile. "Bridge Over
Troubled Water" and "Hey Jude" were played
each time our youth group met.
Still other songs remind me of being a
part of our high school choir. How excited
we were when our choir director passed out
new music and we discovered that it was
something on the radio - "Up, Up and Away."
(You know...in my beautiful balloon...)
We never could make that sound like it
should have and scrapped the idea of singing
it, going back to more traditional school
choir songs, and knowing our friends would
make fun of us once more. The songs from
"Fiddler on the Roof" were part of our
repertoire, as were "The Star Spangled
Banner" and our school Alma Mater. I
still remember all the words to my Alma
Mater. Want me to sing it to you?
There are plenty of Christian melodies
and hymns that can chronicle my spiritual
growth. Some remind me of my grandmother.
One with the words, "It was alone the Savior
reigned in old Gethsemane, alone He drained
the bitter cup and died for you and me"
reminds me of the only time I remember
my mother and I singing a duet in church.
It was Good Friday, and I was a senior in
high school.
At age 26, I moved to Houston. Prior to
that time, I believed that all country
music was the twang-twang kind. How
exciting it was to discover the music
of Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers and
Crystal Gayle. I even learned to love
some of the older country western singers,
like Patsy Kline, and songs like "I Go
to Pieces" and "Crazy."
As a regional sales manager, I taught
my sales associates the importance of
helping each other and the customer,
even if a sale didn't result. They
learned that by thinking of others,
sales did result. We started each
sales meeting listening to the words
"That's What Friends Are For" by Dionne
Warwicke. But, my job also included
getting those sales people excited
about selling, and when I first heard
the tune "Get On Your Feet" by Gloria
Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine,
I knew I had to include that tune in
our sales meetings. The song says,
"Get on your feet. Get up and take
some action." What better words can
there be for a group of sales
representatives? (I'm betting, though,
that they wouldn't include this song
in their own musical journals. They
did grow weary in hearing it!)
When my son was born, I learned to
listen to children's music again, both
secular and Christian. Even today
sometimes, my teen son and I break out
in song while driving in the car; "I can
do all things through Christ who strengthens
me."
And what of now? What tune would I choose
to end my musical journey? What song might
represent where I am at this moment in time?
The answer came quickly to me. "We've Only
Just Begun."
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Heavenly Embrace
by Marilyn Mackenzie
March 29, 2002
The birds they sang in unison
In one accord today.
Today our God, He smiled in Heaven
"The birds have learned," He said.
Animals bowed low and prayed
In one accord they bowed.
Today our God, He smiled in Heaven
"Creatures have learned," He smiled.
"But what of man, so much like me?
When will the lesson be learned,
That each is precious in my sight,
That I hug each one in turn?"
When will we grasp God's love for us?
Is it enough to know
He sent His Son to die for us
We're all his friends, not foe.
Can't we learn from the birds that sing?
Animals know Him too.
His arms want to embrace us all
Waiting for me and you.
Jesus sits at God's right hand side
To welcome us in Heaven.
For us Christ suffered oh so much
He died and rose again.
And while we walk upon this earth
Jesus will bear our loads.
If we just ask our lives will be
So blessed with Him as Lord.
The sun is shining brightly,
Squirrels scurry from tree to tree,
As ever these remind us,
Of God's love for you and me.
Singing birds remind us too
As do the lovely flowers
That God knows where we are now
He cares about us each hour.
If He cares about the birds,
How can we not know His love,
Extends to us, His people.
He embraces us from above.
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