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The Word of the Day Challenge is hymn.  Fandango’s One Word Challenge is contrast.

Every Sunday, it was the same routine. Same old sermons, same old songs. Until that one Sunday, when our pastor was gone and we had a substitute. The substitute was a young woman who had spiked blue hair, a nose ring, and was barefoot. She was a lively speaker, and she held the entire congregation rapt with her dynamic message, which was that of tolerance and acceptance.

When it came time for the hymns, she held a stack of printouts that she gave to the ones who usually circulated the collection plates and had them pass the printouts instead. It was the words to a hymn, with the title, “Gaia Believes”, sung to their old gospel, “Do Lord”. The title and the lyrics were a stark contrast to the usual. Gaia, not God? Usually we are the ones who do the believing, not God.

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Gaia Believes+

She has a place within our heart

that outshines the sun.

She has a place within our heart

that outshines the sun.

She has a place within our heart

that outshines the sun.

It burns for me and you.

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Chorus:

Gaia oh Gaia

She does believe in us

Gaia oh Gaia

She does believe in us

Gaia oh Gaia

She does believe in us

Let’s make our dreams come true.

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Take your neighbor by the hand

and let’s live in peace

Take your neighbor by the hand

and let’s live in peace

Take your neighbor by the hand

and let’s live in peace

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Chorus

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At the end of the service, the congregation left feeling a little different, entertaining notions that God could be female and that she was tired of judging.  Most importantly, that heaven can be right here on earth.

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+sung to the melody of one of the hymns remembered from childhood.  Looking at various sites for who wrote it, “Do Lord” is attributed as an African American spiritual.  Seeing this, the song takes on an even richer dimension.