Amazing Grace

I love the song, Amazing Grace. I love the music and the words. But what I love most is the inspiration I derive from listening to it. Grace is another one of those special words to me, like joy. When I say or hear the word, it evokes a feeling of peace and calmness. Interestingly, Amazing Grace is the first song I learned when I started playing the guitar again, after a 40 year hiatus. And “Grace” is the name I gave to my beautiful Taylor acoustic guitar that my husband gave me as a gift.

So what is it about the song, Amazing Grace, that captivates so many people? For those who are religious, I think the song speaks to the very meaning of our faith. Grace from God is the foundation of my beliefs and my values. Accepting and believing this allows me to be less judge mental of myself and others. “Here, but for the grace of God, go I” is a phrase I use almost daily. It helps keep my life in perspective, an important aspect for maintaining health and happiness, by recognizing that I am not alone in coping with the big and little stuff in life. It brings me comfort and lowers my stress level significantly. This is so important, in general, but especially when you have a chronic condition like Parkinson’s and worry, worry, worry. Understanding that God’s grace is working 24/7 allows me to relax and “chill out” a bit.

Several years ago, I saw a great documentary on the song. Amazing Grace was written in the 1770s and addressed human and civil rights issues at the time. It has been performed and recorded by various artists in all types of genres, including gospel, country, pop and rap. It has been used for inspiration and reflection. At my sister’s funeral, we played a beautiful version of the song with the sound of waves in the background. It moved us to tears as we listened to the awe-inspiring song.

This hymn is a very common one to sing on Sunday mornings across the country. When I see it listed on the bulletin as I sit down in the pew, I am glad. I literally get teary-eyed when I hear the choir and congregation sing each word of this beloved song. I am in awe of a song that has such an impact on so many individuals. In fact, it is amazing!