Lyric For The Day 1.7.11 from If by Joni Mitchell

 

“If you can keep your head
While all about you
People are losing theirs and blaming you
If you can trust yourself
When everybody doubts you
And make allowance for their doubting too.

If you can wait
And not get tired of waiting
And when lied about
Stand tall
Don't deal in lies
And when hated
Don't give in to hating back
Don't need to look so good
Don't need to talk too wise.”

-      From If by Joni Mitchell

This is sage like wisdom from Joni Mitchell. Again, this is not from a Christian artist, though one who has flirted with Christianity at times, but when I make my vows in ministry we are reminded that the Reformed tradition seek light from all quarters. There are echoes of the Sermon on the Mount here. How we react to blame and hate. The power of humility, within and without. I simply love, “If you can trust yourself/When everybody doubts you/And make allowance for their doubting too.” There is no arrogant dismissal of their doubting but a humble use of it in your self-critique. Profound advice.

Comments

[Foxi]

Stocki- does Joni Mitchell acknowledge borrowing this lyric from Rudyard Kipling's poem called "If"?

- Foxi

[Stocki]

She does Foxi (hope you're good!)... it was I who missed it!