In this month of May when it is easy to be ‘blind to the moment’ in the heart of graduations, job searching or following a possible call from God, Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity feature Moment by Alva Leigh.
St. Francis uttered in the Prayer Before the Crucifix that “Most high, glorious God enlighten the darkness of my [our] heart[s]”. Join us in praying that we may all “follow His holy true command” each moment of our lives.
Comment from Alva
This song is inspired by one of my favorite poems: “Arkansas Good Friday” by Franz Wright, from his fantastic collection God’s Silence. The poem and the song tell the story moving out of the shadows–a journey from pain to fear to hopelessness then to love. Looking back on Lent, I can say I spent a lot of time standing in the shadows expecting and awaiting the Easter light of Christ. The shadows alter your focus to show you how much you need the light to see yourself and the world. On the other side of the shadows, Christ offers a new way of seeing the world rooted in a celebration of grace and love. The heaviness of the world, borne by Christ, becomes an easy burden in the light of Easter.About Alva
In this month of May when it is easy to be 'blind to the moment' in the heart of graduations, job searching or following a possible call from God, Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity feature Moment by Alva Leigh.
Alva Leigh’s self-titled debut takes on subjects from travel to natural disaster to death to heaven and hell. Heady stuff for a 22-year old piano-playing singer songwriter, perhaps, but Leigh makes these musical inquiries sound positively exhilarating, with surprise-filled melodies and lyrics that are both poetic and personal.
Produced by John Painter (Ben Folds, Sixpence None The Richer), Leigh’s record invites listeners in with intimate vocals wrapped in sparkling arrangements . From the telegraph-tap verses and swooning chorus of “The Road” and the Kate Bush-influenced “Fire In Your Belly” through the sparkling ‘60s girl group bounce of “Skyline” to the gently soulful “Calling Me” and jazzy post-Katrina reverie of “Hurricane,” it’s a feast for the ears.
Lyrics
What lies beyond this momentary glimpse Of feeling and time and presence The end of this moment will simply begin New water and light and substance the words that are flowing will not frame this tent
This life that we all represent
The pain of our knowing that this time will end
A fear, a fiery lament
I am hurt by the past
Oppressed by the future
And blind to the moment
This fiery silence will one day transcend
I will go back to where I began
