I can't make you love me/Nick of time

One of my favourite artists of all time is Bon Iver. His music is amazing. Every one of his songs touches my soul.

Recently, Bon Iver did a cover of Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me" and a small portion of "Nick of Time". I got chills down my spine after I listened to it the first time. He's admitting defeat because he can't make the person he loves love him back, and while his situation is sad and pitiable, he comes across as being dignified and noble at the same time. His voice is beautiful and melancholic as always, and the piano is wonderful. I think almost everyone out there will be able to relate to the song to a certain degree. No doubt we've all wondered at one point or another why love can't just be easy.

Turn down the lights, turn down the bed
Turn down these voices inside my head
Lay down with me, tell me no lies
Just hold me close, don't patronise me
Don't patronise me

'Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
I can't make your heart feel something it won't
Here in the dark, in these final hours
I will lay down my heart and I feel the power
But you don't
No you don't
'Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
If you don't
No you won't

I'll close my eyes, then I won't see
The love you don't feel when you're holding me
Morning will come and I'll do what's right
Just give me til then to give up this fight
And I will give up this fight

'Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
I can't make your heart feel something it won't
Here in the dark, in these final hours
I will lay down my heart and I feel the power
But you don't
No you don't
'Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
If you don't
No you won't

I found love, darling
Love in the nick of time

A treatfest for the ears and for the heart. Have a lovely day.

G.

A softer world: 697

I find myself thinking this sometimes.

It's a shame, really.

G.

Her morning elegance

I recently discovered through a friend a musician called Oren Lavie. He's an Israeli singer-songwriter and his music is beautiful. I like his husky voice, and his simple but wonderful melodies.

My favourite song from his album, "On the Opposite Side of the Sea", is called "Her Morning Elegance". It's like a sweet cup of coffee at a cute little cafe on a sunny day. The music video is really awesome too, very creative stop-motion stuff.

Sun been down for days
A pretty flower in a vase
A slipper by the fireplace
A cello lying in its case

Soon she's down the stairs
Her morning elegance she wears
The sound of water makes her dream
Awoken by a cloud of steam
She pours a daydream in a cup
A spoon of sugar sweetens up

And she fights for her life as she puts on her coat
And she fights for her life on the train
She looks at the rain as it pours
And she fights for her life as she goes in a store
With a thought she has caught by a thread
She pays for the bread and she goes
Nobody knows

Sun been down for days
A winter melody she plays
The thunder makes her contemplate
She hears a noise behind the gate
Perhaps a letter with a dove
Perhaps a stranger she could love

And she fights for her life as she puts on her coat
And she fights for her life on the train
She looks at the rain as it pours
And she fights for her life as she goes in a store
With a thought she has caught by a thread
She pays for the bread and she goes
Nobody knows

And she fights for her life as she puts on her coat
And she fights for her life on the train
She looks at the rain as it pours
And she fights for her life as she goes in a store
Where the people are pleasantly strange
And counting the change and she goes
Nobody knows

I can't stop listening to this song! Have a wonderful day.

G.

Untitled, Anonymous

I don't know what this poem is called, or who wrote it, but it speaks to me, quietly but powerfully amidst the other roaring voices in my life right now.

"왜 울고 있느냐
오늘도 같은 죄에서 넘어졌기에
그렇게 죄책감에 쓰러져 울고 있구나

왜 울고 있느냐
오늘도 나와 함꼐 동행하기 원했으나
그러지 못함으로 자책하며 울고 있구나

왜 울고 있느냐
너도 모르게 자꾸만 교만하여 지는
너의 마음때문에 괴로워 울고 있구나

왜 울고 있느냐
자꾸 유혹에 쓰러지고 죄를 짓게 되어
연약한 네 자신때문에 속상해 울고 있구나

왜 울고 있느냐
내가 너를 씻겨 주었음에도 자꾸만 더러운 모습으로
내 앞에 오는 것이 부끄럽고 미안해서 울고 있구나

울지 말아라, 내 아이야
네가 나를 향해 나아오려는 마음을
내가 알고 있단다

울지 말아라, 내 아이야
네가 연약한 너의 육신으로 인해 괴로워 하고 있음을
내가 알고 있단다

울지 말아라, 내 아이야
네가 나를 닮아가려고 수백번, 수천번
노력하고 있음을 내가 알고 있단다

울지 말아라, 내 아이야
네가 나를 사랑하고 있는 마음을
내가 알고 있단다

나도 너를 사랑한단다
내가 너를 죄로부터 지킬 것이며
내가 너를 악한 영으로부터 지킬 것이며
내가 너의 약한 육신에 힘을 줄 것이며
내가 너의 쓰러진 영혼에 손을 내밀어 붙잡아 줄 것이며
내가 너로 하여금 길을 잃지 않도록 붙들어 줄 것이란다

눈물을 닦아라, 내 아이야
너의 마음을
내가 다 알고 있단다."

I'm not going to translate this because it'll be poor and won't do justice to the poem. It's basically about a person crying out of frustration, guilt, shame and anger at not being able to live up to the standards that s/he knows is necessary in a life lived with God, and God comforting him/her, saying that He knows his/her heart for God and efforts to become more Christ-like. Ultimately, it's not my own doing that counts, but the fact that God, out of love and mercy, makes me better than I could ever be on my own.

Have a wonderful day.

G.

The best

I'm a small group leader in this youth group at university, called KYCF (Korean Youth Christian Fellowship). I've been attending this group ever since I was a first year, and I'm really stoked that I've been given the opportunity to serve as a small group leader before I graduate this year.

Yesterday we had our weekly youth group meeting, and during small group session, I asked my peeps their prayer requests. Both of them (unfortunately I have a lot of absentees each week) said that they would like to be able to do their best in all aspects of life, all the time. I guess wanting to be your best self and wanting to do your best in everything is a universal desire.

Today, I read an awesome Oswald Chambers quote on this notion of "the best":

The good is always the enemy of the best.

We can always be better, and do better. Let's not be satisfied with "the good". Let's always want and strive for "the best", and no less.

Have an awesome weekend.

G.