Save me from this prison
Lord help me get away
Cause only you can save me now
From this misery
Cause I’ve been lost in my own place
And I’m getting’ weary
How far is heaven
And I know I need to change
My ways of livin’
How far is heaven, Lord can you tell me
Cause I’ve been locked up way too long
In this crazy world, how far is heaven
I just keep on prayin’ Lord
Just keep on livin’, how far is heaven
Lord can you tell me, how far is heaven
I just got to know how far, how far is heaven
Lord can you tell me
(translated from Spanish)
(You that's in a higher place
Send me down a blessing)
Cause I know there’s a better place
Than this place I’m livin’, how far is heaven
And I just got to have some faith
And just keep on giving, how far is heaven
I just wanna know how far
The exuberant Vamonos! (Spanish for “let’s
go!”)
shouted at the beginning of the funky latin/blues/rock of
this Los Lonely Boys hit belies the deep spiritual longing
in the lyrics. The writer bemoans his current way of living.
He knows he’s trapped in a self-imposed prison that’s
wearing him down and making him miserable.
Ah, the human condition! This is the biggest lesson not learned by many, but when you do awaken
to the truth that most of your problems (and hence, misery) are of your own
making you pave the way to a road that does indeed lead to heaven…if only you will start trudging it.
I know the concept that we are responsible for own troubles is not popular. Hey, I don’t
much care for it either. But, the truth not only sets you free – it also causes
some pain. The ego must suffer surgery if we are to get right sized.
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Los Lonely Boys have a great sound to
accompany this song, bringing to mind Stevie Ray Vaughan,
Santana and Tex-Mex, a musical burrito they call “Texican”. The contrast
works well. You can dance to the song while the lyrics work
their way into your head, and hopefully, heart. Let that formula
do its thing. This is the power of the poets who use music
to deliver the message that is springing forth from the God-center
of their creativity.
Many have contemplated whether heaven is a post-life destination
or a state of being that we can reach in our earthly lives.
From my perspective it’s not a simple either/or. Yes,
I believe in a life hereafter and to get there is a gift
from God and not something earned. However, there is the
prayer attributed to Jesus when his disciples asked him to
teach them to pray. And in that prayer Jesus says “thy
kingdom come, they will be done…on earth as it is in
heaven”. The Gospels also speak of the kingdom of heaven
being near for those who preach and receive God’s message
of love and caring for others (something that requires leaving
the prison of self-centeredness).
How far is heaven? Is it a destination or a place or a state
of being? We do well to contemplate it and to recognize that
asking the questions is part of the seeking.
