Bach holding Jesus by the Hand

Thanks to the tireless work of Annelies, some interesting observations about music are appearing in Dutch, and I'll try to comment on them here in English.


This piece in particular inspires me, for it ties in well with the morning and evening meditations which Gary Renard recommends. Gary frames it in the way of visualizing a white light, as a symbol of the love of God, and then leaving all our worries at the altar. This melody could serve as an introduction to that meditation equally well, for it is an invitation for us to take Jesus' outstretched hand and accept his embrace, while letting all our worries and concerns slip from our clammy little hands onto the altar, to simply join with him and rest in the love of God for a while (as long as you can stand it). The Course reminds us of this in a generic way, in the I need do nothing section of Chapter 18:

Yet there will always be this place of rest to which you can return. And you will be more aware of this quiet center of the storm than all its raging activity. This quiet center, in which you do nothing, will remain with you, giving you rest in the midst of every busy doing on which you are sent. For from this center will you be directed how to use the body sinlessly. It is this center, from which the body is absent, that will keep it so in your awareness of it. (ACIM:T-18.VII.8)