Jesus Christ is waiting

[Hare]

We sang this at this weekend's masses (CFE 323) A member of the congregation has asked me what is alluded to by the line "On suspicion's graveyard let me dance with you" I could offer nothing more than that I thought that as the verse starts by referring to defeating hatred, it was developing that to say that suspicion can lead to hatred...

Can anyone offer a more accurate or less simplistic view please? Or perhaps, as in many of his hymns, John Bell had a specific event or place or group of people, in mind...........?

[VML]

I can only hazard a guess at something similar to burying the hatchet.

[Lakelark]

If enough people find this line meaningless, then it is meaningless. You don't dance on graveyards, but on gravestones.
That's one point. But exactly what could "suspicion's graveyard" be? Is it a graveyard belonging to Suspicion, so that he can bury the dead in it? Or is it a graveyard in which Suspicion himself is buried, with the implication that he has been killed off by a better power? I don't know.

I suggest the author be asked to explain this line. Alternatively, an approach might be made to the publishers of the hymn, who, presumably, know exactly what every hymn means before they publish it.

[VML]

Alternatively, an approach might be made to the publishers of the hymn, who, presumably, know exactly what every hymn means before they publish it.

[HelenR]

I think I may be being simplistic but I read this as I will follow Jesus' example

I will put aside all my suspiscions, doubts, fears and the barriers which actually stop me reaching out to others, which on occasion lead me to hate and want vengance, and which prevent me from loving and serving all people not just the ones I find comfortable to work with.

All to often I forget i have to love the person ( or more honestly people and groups ) I find difficult,
I think they have ulterior motives,
I think they don't like me so I won;t work with them
I don't understand why they do or say what they do,
I think I will get hurt
I think I won't do a good job and they won't respect me back - the doubts and suspicions mount up and I wish I could put bury and dance with joy and love on their graves.

Thats what it means to me but there may be other ways of interpreting it

Thank you for making me think and pray about this
Helen

[Lakelark]

HelenR, thank you for your post. I can only hope that when I have sung these words I have been thinking a little bit like you. I think I probably have thought so. but it takes a huge effort to unpack it all in the four beats of a bar. You have done it for us. I do rather think, however, that the imagery would be more accessible with gravestone, rather than graveyard. Are we faced with an americanism here?

[HelenR]

that the imagery would be more accessible with gravestone

It would be to a linguist but to someone like me who is very challenged when it comes to dancing I think I need the whole graveyard - and come to think of it I need the whole graveyard to bury the suspicion

Helen

[Hare]

HelenR, thank you for your post. I can only hope that when I have sung these words I have been thinking a little bit like you. I think I probably have thought so. but it takes a huge effort to unpack it all in the four beats of a bar. You have done it for us. I do rather think, however, that the imagery would be more accessible with gravestone, rather than graveyard. Are we faced with an americanism here?

I suppose if we bury each of HelenR's excellent points separately we would end up with a graveyard.........

[Lakelark]

Going off at a tangent - but still, I think, on topic - I have just googled "dance on graveyard". Some of the results are quite disturbing.
Further, the only phrase I can find in the reference books available to me is "dance on someone's grave". The meaning is simple~ to dance on someone's grave means that you have outlived them and are probably quite pleased to have done so. A depth of spirituality here! And I think I must have missed it because I am a linguist.

[Hare]

Totally off-topic, but I've just twigged about the name "Lakelark"

[gwyn]

Totally off-topic, but I've just twigged about the name "Lakelark"

Clever eh?

[mcb]

Totally off-topic, but I've just twigged about the name "Lakelark"

Do try and keep up!

[Hare]

Totally off-topic, but I've just twigged about the name "Lakelark"

Do try and keep up!

Oops - missed that

(Oops as in "oops" rather than addressed to "Oops" I feel a stern rebuke for "off-topic-ing coming. apologies in advance. )