This Simple Life
On my most recent "Album", "The Spirit Tree", I wrote a song called "This Simple Life". It is basically an upbeat ode to the relatively uncomplicated and significantly blissful world that I live in here with my Wife and Family.
This Simple Life
Don’t you ever have pity on me
I’m become the man I always wanted to be
Each day a banquet of laughter and love
Everything fits like a hand in a glove
Enough work to keep the devil away
But never too much for “all work and no play”
I live in heaven with my feet on the ground
I can’t believe this simple life I have found
Nothing fancy, no diamonds and gold
Not afraid that I am growing too old
Just happy children and a Beautiful wife
Oh my God I’m living This Simple Life
Sometimes I grieve for all the things that I’ve lost
All the times I didn’t count the cost
But by some crazy stroke of chance or grace
I’ve finally gotten to this beautiful place
Nothing fancy, no diamonds and gold
Not afraid that I am growing too old
Just happy children and a beautiful wife
Oh my God I’m living This Simple Life
Who ever thought that it would come to this
That I rarely worry bout the things that I’ve missed
Fame and fortune as the star of the show
Can’t hold a candle to these people I know
Nothing fancy, no diamonds and gold
Not afraid that I am growing too old
Just happy children and a beautiful wife
Oh my God I’m living This Simple Life
I think about how profound that idea is to me right now. . .I have meatloaf cooking in the oven. . .the kids are playing. . .talking about simple things. . .how they like to go to Home Depot and Hobby Lobby. About what they want from Santa Claus (Toy vaccumm cleaners. . ."red, like Daddy's"), etc.
I am SO blessed (and I cannot honestly think of another term for it) to recognize the beautiful joys of my life. . .playing scrabble with my wife, talking about books with my 13 year old, going on outings to the playground with the toddlers, going to sleep, and feeling the baby move inside Kimberly's belly, under my hand.
Yes, I DO believe in God. . .I DO believe that there is some master artist who is not only creating this beautiful life around me, but also helping me to see it for what it is. . .truly heaven on earth.
This Simple Life
Don’t you ever have pity on me
I’m become the man I always wanted to be
Each day a banquet of laughter and love
Everything fits like a hand in a glove
Enough work to keep the devil away
But never too much for “all work and no play”
I live in heaven with my feet on the ground
I can’t believe this simple life I have found
Nothing fancy, no diamonds and gold
Not afraid that I am growing too old
Just happy children and a Beautiful wife
Oh my God I’m living This Simple Life
Sometimes I grieve for all the things that I’ve lost
All the times I didn’t count the cost
But by some crazy stroke of chance or grace
I’ve finally gotten to this beautiful place
Nothing fancy, no diamonds and gold
Not afraid that I am growing too old
Just happy children and a beautiful wife
Oh my God I’m living This Simple Life
Who ever thought that it would come to this
That I rarely worry bout the things that I’ve missed
Fame and fortune as the star of the show
Can’t hold a candle to these people I know
Nothing fancy, no diamonds and gold
Not afraid that I am growing too old
Just happy children and a beautiful wife
Oh my God I’m living This Simple Life
I think about how profound that idea is to me right now. . .I have meatloaf cooking in the oven. . .the kids are playing. . .talking about simple things. . .how they like to go to Home Depot and Hobby Lobby. About what they want from Santa Claus (Toy vaccumm cleaners. . ."red, like Daddy's"), etc.
I am SO blessed (and I cannot honestly think of another term for it) to recognize the beautiful joys of my life. . .playing scrabble with my wife, talking about books with my 13 year old, going on outings to the playground with the toddlers, going to sleep, and feeling the baby move inside Kimberly's belly, under my hand.
Yes, I DO believe in God. . .I DO believe that there is some master artist who is not only creating this beautiful life around me, but also helping me to see it for what it is. . .truly heaven on earth.
posted by Thomas J. at 11/05/2005 05:25:00 PM
12 Comments:
how is your wife holding out? we have been expecting an announcement of your new little one.
thanks for asking. . .we are still good. . she is on "bed rest" and we are hoping to hold out until the C-section which is scheduled the beginning of december. . so we shall see!!
Thanks for your good thoughts!
Thomas J.
Thomas-
Sounds like you are still doing a lot with your music. Good for you. I enjoyed reading your lyrics to Simple Life. Do you ever hear from any of the old band guys like Derek or Ricky?
Glad to hear that your wife is holding on. Your new baby will be here before you know it.
-the masked man
thanks again for asking. . .
I actually have contact with every former member of Bedrock with the exception of Chris Davis. . .Ricky and I talk regularly, Derek and I have some sporadic correspondence, Dave Gann and I were chatting every few days before he got shipped to afghanistan, Metal and I correspond about once every month or so, and I recently have been in correspondence with Steve Brauer (original Bedrock guitarist). . .in fact, we talked on the phone for about an hour the other night.
Other than that, all is well. ..still patiently awaiting new baby girl!!
Talk to ya soon!!
That is great that you still talk to good friends from college. I talk with a few people, but most I have lost contact with. I have been surprised how many people have left the church after attending FHU. But looking back, I guess they didnt really teach too much about how to be a Christian in the "real world."
Well you were right. I found your ex, through FHU and have had a couple of conversations with her on line. She is definatley still active in the church, but seems to be happy and pretty different than the Connie that I remember...why am I telling you this, you probably don't care. Sorry.
the masked man
Actually, MM, You prompt me to make some changes. I have no illusions about the idea that Conni and I will EVER be "friends", but there is a time to move along on healing and to struggle towards forgiveness.
If there has been change and growth there, I see that as nothing but good. . .in fact, wonderful. I, will remain skeptical, but that is more my nature than anything else. . .Life is too short to remain dwelling on bitterness.
Go back thru the Website, under "all about me", and note the change to my Bekah page. I think it is high past time to bear any more grudges. I just hope that in time that feeling is mutual on the part of everybody involved, especially Bekah.
Thanks again for your kind, gentle spirit.
Thomas J.
you aren't quite the same thomas I remember either. good for you.
it sounds like Connie keeps you informed somewhat, are you keeping up with how Becca is doing?
Wow, your post here, and on your site really sound very different from what I would have expected.
here's to growth.
-Masked Man
Well, like I said, I am a "work in progress". . .i have my moments. . .both good AND bad. Hopefully, though, the growth process is just that, a process.
Unfortunately, no, Conni does NOT keep me informed. . I very rarely hear from her at all, and when I do, most of those correspondences are confronational and aggressive. (To which I usually respond in kind). Maybe that will change in the future, but for now, I rely on my "sources" for information.
Thanks for your continued support. . .as soon as you are willing to unmask, that would be great.
Thomas J.
i am happy to share with you what she told me about her. she said that she is doing well in school and active with artsy kind of stuff at school...music, drama. she said that she was active in the community and did some stuff for Katrina victims... organized a car wash i think she said and a community yard sale. of course she said that she was really into church, and has won some regional awards for some Bible bowl kind of thing...i think that was about it...well at least that i can remember.
if you want to know more about what is going on maybe you should email Conni (no E i noticed in your post)and ask. You don't have anything to lose?
Hmmmm. . .that WOULD be great to be able to open a dialogue, however< I am reasonably skeptical. . .the past several years have been met with resistance from her in these matters.
I think that there IS progress down the road of Healing and forgiveness, but I am not sure that all of us areTHAT far down the road yet. The last thing in the world that I want to do is to instigate another round of hostility, aggression, and suspicion.
In addition, from all that I have heard through my sources, Conni has been having significant health problems. I think that their energies need to be geared towards making usre that they are well and healthy, rather than trying to sort out all of this. If I were to see an opening or an indication that such an overture would be welcome, that may be a little different, but at this time, I think discretion is the better part of valor.
Again, thanks for your concern and the info. It is clear to me that Bekah is growing into a fine young woman.
Talk to ya soon,
Thomas J.
it is your call obviously, but she didn't seem too resistant when i mentioned to her that i had talked with you and that you were doing well. in fact, she said, "it is good to hear."
she did tell me that she had had 2 major surgeries this year, but that they finally got it right and she is done. She said that her docs were impressed with her healing, and had no doubt that she would be better off after the recovery period than she was before the surgeries. She sent me a picture, and she looks a little thin to me, but what do I know?
Why am I sharing all of this? Who knows? you probaly really don't care...i'm just sharing what she shared with me, although I am not sure why.
I hope that your "sources" provide you with enough to sustain you until a time comes that you feel like you can make contact with Conni.
--masked man
WEll, again, I think that when the time is right, it may happen, but right now, I think that caution is a good thing. . .I would rather NOT instigate another conflict, and if things HAVE truly changed for her, then the more time that is given for everybody to heal, the better.
Thanks again for your thoughtfulness.
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