Pass It On

Back in 1969, my mom and I became fans of a newly published contemporary hymn by Kurt Kaiser called "Pass It On."  It was among the first such hymns that deviated from those familiar and lovely standbys found in our church hymnal.  Mom was teaching Sunday School at the time and had received some floppy 45rpm records of new hymns as part of her education packet.  Mom carefully removed the fragile disc, placed it on our record player and the forever-lovefest with "Pass It On" began.  This morning, as our church organist began to play offertory music on the piano, I instantly recognized that she was playing "Pass It On."  For a moment, I was 11 years old, singing with my mom to the record player in our living room.  Although a child at the time, I deeply resonated with the lyrics about it only taking a spark to get a fire going, the joys of spring when all growing things bud and grow, and likening it all to the experiencing of God's love, a love that is so intense and real that one can only want to pass it on.  I let the music wash over me, feeling the hand of God over mine, as well as that of my late mom.  I was so warmed by the feeling that, once again, I wanted to pass it on.