You probably remember this as well as I do. At the start of the United State’s lockdown to “flatten the curve” when we all started quarantining in our homes a few celebrities put out a video of them singing John Lennon’s Imagine. While the song has a pretty tune, it did not bring me any comfort. No offense to any Lennon fans out there but imagining “there’s no heaven” is not a comforting thought. Especially at the beginning of my first pandemic. For me, it is actually a depressing thought.
I realize people were just trying to help (bless their hearts) but if I’m facing a possibility, even remotely, of death or death of a loved one, that’s when I want to believe in heaven the most.
As an answer to their well-intentioned video, I wanted to do my own. This time with a song that not only has a pretty melody but a message of hope. For me, that would be the hymn “I Know That My Redeemer Lives.” Unfortunately, I am not a singer. I needed to rely on others sharing their talent and testimony through song. I asked for volunteers to help out by videoing them singing certain snippets of the hymn and sending me the video. Several responded but not everyone followed through.
In the end, I could not do my video because a few people did not send in their video of them singing. The way I divided the song up I couldn’t work around the missing pieces.
So I didn’t get to share a song that provides me with comfort at a time when I wanted to share some comfort. Instead, I listened to versions of the hymn every night before going to bed.
He lives to grant me rich supply.
He lives to guide me with His eye.
He lives to comfort me when faint.
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.
He lives to silence all my fears.
He lives to wipe away my tears.
He lives to calm my troubled heart.
He lives all blessings to impart.
Samuel Medley, Lewis D. Edwards
I appreciate the effort to try and comfort me with pretty music but with all due respect to the late Mr. Lennon, I choose to believe in heaven. I don’t think our problems exist because there is a heaven, I believe our problems exist because we are so far removed from it.
If I am going to face this uncertain time I want it to be with the hope of heaven in my heart.
ck's days 
Lennon’s “Imagine” offers me no comfort either. Nor does “My Way” that Sinatra popularized. Many songs are like that. The melodies are fine, but the lyrics damage the melodies and make them falsely sentimental.
Funny how I never paid attention before. I just assumed it was a comforting song. I will have to pay attention to My Way now, too.