“The Golden Road” Poem

Posted by John on Oct 31st, 2006 | no comments

In an earlier post I referred to this poem that I wrote in college.

~The Golden Road ~

Looking back on years gone by
We stop to think and wonder why
The joys of youth that we once knew
Have been sacrificed for something new.

The things we looked to with delight
Like summer days and moonlit nights,
Golden fields stretching far and wide,
And oceans that came and went in tide.
We wanted with the birds to sing.
Life was filled with pleasant things.

We were travelers on a winding road;
A road paved with the finest gold.
Trees and fields were on both sides,
And we walked on with playful strides.
We searched for the simple truth
Traveling on the golden road of youth.

We sought to find our fantasies.
Our hearts were filled with ecstasies.
We ran through grass up to our knees.
We longed for autumns bed of leaves.

When we had fallen to the ground
We got back up and looked around.
The words that quickly let us down
Were soon replaced with pleasing sounds.
The things we seemed to desperately lack
Were soon forgotten, and we’d bounce back.

We were travelers on a winding road;
A road paved with the finest gold.
We look back at all the trees
Depicting our fondest of memories.
We searched to find the simple truth
Traveling on the golden road of youth.

Joy and peace seemed natural.
We felt as if invincible.
But now we live in grave distrust;
We sense that we return to dust.

Time seemed like an endless friend,
But our friend now comes to an end.
The dreams we once looked forward to
Have dwindled to a meager few.
Imagination encompassed round,
But now, to reality we are bound.

We were travelers on a winding road;
A road paved with the finest gold.
We have seen and passed the final tree;
And all we have are memories.
We finally found the simple truth.
Thus ended the golden road of youth.

- JT

Opus 12: Carried Away

Posted by John on Oct 27th, 2006 | no comments

Behind the music

Posted by John on Oct 16th, 2006 | no comments

My first album, The Golden Road, came out in 1999.  Shortly after its release, a friend and benefactor of mine from a local radio station encouraged me to write a story for each song on the album.  In a way the stories are the lyrics to the songs. There is something unique about instrumental music, as opposed to lyrical songwriting. It allows the listener more freedom–freedom to imagine or remember the message in the light of his or her own personal experiences. For myself, I can only tell you what each piece has meant to me over the years.

The Golden Road is a collection of piano works that I started composing in my early teens, and it follows me through high school, college and three years of marriage. I think of it as a musical journey through my childhood and the experiences of growing up. Most important, these works accompanied my growth in an understanding of God and how he relates to me. I hope that you will be encouraged as you share my music and my stories, and that you, too, would come to some understanding of the intimate and personal God who I am coming to know.

Opus 11: Awakening

Posted by John on Oct 13th, 2006 | no comments

Opus 10: Waiting

Posted by John on Oct 4th, 2006 | no comments

A friend of mine named this song. She had come to the point in her life where she was content to wait for God’s leading in finding her future husband. For me, it reminded me of being content to wait for God in my daily circumstances. One of my favorite verses in the Bible is found in Exodus 14:13, “Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today.” (NKJ) The Israelites were fleeing the Egyptians and the Red Sea lay before them. Imagine all the commotion and the fear. Then Moses told the people to stop what they were doing and watch what God was about to do for them. If they kept looking at the Egyptians and not at Moses, they would have missed one of the most awesome miracles in human history.

How often do we insist on staring at the enemy rather than at our Deliverer? A lot of times we don’t stand still long enough to see the Lord working in our lives through the circumstances and people around us. We’re impatient; we’re discontent. Contented waiting is simply confidence in the fact that God is in control and that God knows what is best for us, his children. Discontented waiting places no confidence in God’s ability to work through the circumstances and people that surround us. Contented waiting is what my friend displayed when she trusted her perfect Heavenly Father to bring her future husband in his perfect time. Discontented waiting would have complained to God for not following her timetable. Here are some verses to help cultivate a spirit of contented waiting.

“Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.” (Psalm 37:7, NLT)

“Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful.” (Romans 12:12, NLT)

“Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14, NLT)

Copyright 1999. John Albert Thomas. All Rights Reserved.