I Need You To Survive

I attended the Martin Luther King Jr. Service Sunday evening at FPCB. This was my fifth church service of the day to attend as Dean and I were commissioned by the congregation at all four of the services. But I love the MLK service at FPCB as we are joined by the gospel choir and congregants from Mt. Calvary Christian Center in Seattle. It was especially wonderful this time as we considered the words of MLK on the eve of the election of our new president. The gospel music and readings and sermon were wonderful. When I arrived, even though I saw several folks I knew in the pews, I told myself I was going to sit next to one of our visitors from Mt. Calvary so plopped myself down beside two lovely women of color: one a sweet little old thing, and the other, about my age, in a smashing hat and all dressed up, Olive and Julia their names respectively. Joke was on me: Julia goes to our church, not Mt. Calvary (but goes to the 11 service so I had an excuse not to recognize her). Anyway, the end of the service is always the holding of hands and singing "I need you to survive." I downloaded the version on I-tunes (by Hezekiah Walker). We were encouraged to make eye contact with those around us as we sang these words. It was very moving and, as usual, I teared up. I got to thinking that there are two meanings to the title line: I need you to survive. It could be about my need for you in order for me to survive, as in "I need you (in my life or I will not be able) to survive". Or it could mean that I need for You to survive, as in "I need you (to survive in this life or else I won't be able) to survive". It's kind of the same thing and kind of not. Anyway, I loved holding Olive's hand on one side, and Ronda's (who had later joined me) on the other.

I Need You to Survive (Hezekiah Walker) :

I need you, you need me. We're all a part of God's body. Stand with me, agree with me. We're all a part of God's body.It is his will that every need be supplied.You are important to me, I need you to survive.You are important to me, I need you to survive.I need you, you need me. We're all a part of God's body. Stand with me, agree with me. We're all a part of God's body.It is his will that every need be supplied.You are important to me, I need you to survive.You are important to me, I need you to survive.I pray for you , you pray for me.I love you, I need you to survive.I won't harm you with words from my mouth.I love you, I need you to survive. It is his will, that every need be supplied. You are important to me, I need you to survive