Higher Ground
I’ve had the Stevie Wonder song, Higher Ground playing on repeat in the back of my mind for weeks now. The song was released in 1973, coincidentally the year Roe v. Wade became law (I was 8 years old), and its lyrics have proved to be evergreen. Depending on how you see it, the song is proof that the problems of our country and our planet are intractable and evergreen, too. After all, here we are fighting some of the same battles today as were being waged then.
On the other hand, you could opt for the hopeful view. I’m no pollyanna, but I am firmly in the camp of those who believe that raging and doom-scrolling won’t get us anywhere. Our work is to put our heads down to do the holy work of learning and growing, preaching and teaching, parenting, loving, canvassing, marching, voting–whatever your own set of gifts and talents call you to do will be what moves us forward. It’s all we have. Like the Starbucks and Amazon labor leaders who work tirelessly to unionize their fellow workers, like the NASA/Webb Science Working Group whose brilliance and dedication allowed us all to be dazzled this week by images some of us can scarcely understand, and like the first grade teachers who are beginning to plan for the year ahead, hoping to spark the joy of learning and curiosity in a brand new class of students.
I don’t think that Stevie Wonder song is trying to say that things don’t change in a jaded, why bother, “the more things change the more they stay the same” kind of way. I think what it is saying is nothing changes unless WE change it.
Holy One,
Thank you for giving us curious minds, big voices, and strong hands to do your holy work in the world.
Amen
Eli is a song leader at Peace. She loves all the things about summer that make her feel like a kid again: ripe tomatoes and sweet corn, walking barefoot outside, the sound of baseball and Stevie Wonder.
Higher Ground
People keep on learnin’
Soldiers keep on warrin’
World keep on turnin’
‘Cause it won’t be too long
Powers keep on lyin’
While your people keep on dyin’
World keep on turnin’
‘Cause it won’t be too long
I’m so darn glad He let me try it again
‘Cause my last time on earth, I lived a whole world of sin
I’m so glad that I know more than I knew then
Gonna keep on tryin’
‘Til I reach my highest ground
Teachers keep on teachin’
Preachers keep on preachin’
World keep on turnin’
‘Cause it won’t be too long
Lovers keep on lovin’
Believers keep on believin’
Sleepers just stop sleepin’
‘Cause it won’t be too long
‘Til I reach my higher ground
No one’s gonna bring me down
They’re sure gonna try
I’m gonna go higher
Don’t you let nobody take you down
Just keep on and keep on until you reach higher ground