Touching Lives: Praying For Time

I normally try to stay off my soap box, but I feel this is an important message that needs to be spread.

As an artist, I share my ideas and messages through art and expression. So, I wanted to share with you the very powerful song, "Praying For Time", performed by Carrie Underwood on this year's Idol Gives Back. Originally written and performed by George Michael, this song talks about the difference between the "givers" and the "takers" in the world.

In these scary and trying times that we live in, it's important that we remember what really matters in life. We need to remind ourselves (and each other) to take inventory often of the good things that we already have in our lives, and not be so fearful of what we don't have, or of what we might lose. At the end of the day, the people in our lives are important - the material things are not.

This song really hit home for me when I recently heard it on Idol, and I hope you take a moment to truly listen to the song and read the lyrics.

I've included both Carrie Underwood's performance, and an unplugged performance by George Michael. I've also included the lyrics for the song below the videos. Together, let's make a difference in the world, one person at a time.





Praying For Time
by George Michael

These are the days of the open hand
They will not be the last
Look around now
These are the days of the beggars and the choosers

This is the year of the hungry man
Whose place is in the past
Hand in hand with ignorance
And legitimate excuses

The rich declare themselves poor
And most of us are not sure
If we have too much
But we'll take our chances
'Cause God's stopped keeping score
I guess somewhere along the way
He must have let us all out to play
Turned his back and all God's children
Crept out the back door

And it's hard to love
There's so much to hate
Hanging on to hope
When there is no hope to speak of
And the wounded skies above
Say it's much too late
Well maybe we should all be praying for time

These are the days of the empty hand
Oh you hold on to what you can
And charity is a coat you wear twice a year

This is the year of the guilty man
Your television takes a stand
And you find that what was over there is over here

So you scream from behind your door
Say "what's mine is mine and not yours"
I may have too much but I'll take my chances
'Cause God's stopped keeping score
And you cling to the things they sold you
Did you cover your eyes when they told you

That he can't come back
'Cause he has no children to come back for

It's hard to love
There's so much to hate
Hanging on to hope
When there is no hope to speak of
And the wounded skies above
Say it's much too late
So maybe we should all be praying for time