Our world usually tries to keep sacred and secular apart. Especially with music. Religious songs are meant to be sung in church, secular songs are out in public. But sometimes the sacred actually fills up the secular. Sometimes sacred songs rise on the Top 40 chart. Consider these:

“When The Saints Go Marching In,” made famous by Louis Armstrong and now sung at countless funerals.

“He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands,” brilliantly introduced on the Ed Sullivan Show by Marian Anderson, often called the voice that only comes along once in a hundred years.

“Amazing Grace,” an incredible rendition by Judy Collins that raced to the top of the charts.

“Morning Has Broken,” a Cat Steven’s classic which now is included in many church hymnbooks.

But perhaps the most memorable song is quoted directly from the Bible, called “Turn, Turn, Turn.” Pete Seeger is the one who actually put music to these verses, and the song went viral when sung by a folk rock group “The Byrds.” The song struck a most responsive chord in the chaos of the 1960s and has much to offer us in the chaos of 2024.

Chorus: To everything turn, turn, turn, there is a season, turn, turn, turn, and a time for every purpose under heaven.

A time to be born, a time to die, a time to plant, a time to reap, a time to kill, a time to heal, a time to laugh, a time to weep. Chorus.
A time to build up, a time to break down, a time to dance, a time to mourn, a time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together. Chorus.
A time of love, a time of hate, a time of war, a time of peace, a time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing. Chorus.
A time to gain, a time to lose, a time to rain, a time to sow, a time for love, a time for hate, a time for peace, I swear its not too late.

Because Jesus brings us his love and his peace, it is not too late. Turn, turn, turn. 

Questions for reflection:

  1. What sacred song which became popular in secular society is your favorite?
  2. What season is it in our lives, and what is our purpose under heaven?
  3. From what do we and our world need to turn, turn, turn?