Not a Kid's Song Anymore

I don't know about you, but I remember singing "Put Your Hand in the Hand..." at VBS every year and enjoying it. I thought it was way cooler than "Jesus Loves Me" and "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands", which were the standard fare at VBS. But as I got older, of course, the song really didn't do anything for me anymore. As a children's song, it's cool; as a grown up song, it's kinda cheesy. I was somewhat disappointed in this because I really liked the melody. Oh well...another children's song lost to adulthood...

...until, that is, I heard Donny Hathaway sing it. Of course, Donny Hathaway could probably make any song sound good; but this song takes on a whole new dimension in his hands. When you hear him sing "Put you Hand in the Hand of the Man...", you realize what a powerful song it really is. He takes a great children's song and transforms it into an awesome spiritual! Just by the emotion of his voice and the arrangement of the music (and his lyrical liberty), he makes this song speak to the hearts of those who know this Man of Galilee; and to those who have only been introduced to Him. In Donny's hands, I again want to walk with this Man and talk with this Man, and to let this Man take my hand and guide me wherever He wishes. In Donny's hands, this song speaks powerfully of the strength and care of this Man to a weak and hurting soul. With the soulful musicianship and heartfelt voice of Donny, this song has once again transcended the simplicity of its message. If this song doesn't make you want to get up and praise the Lord, I think you may be dead already!