Keep Walkin'

+St. Joseph Day+

On a cold dark night

a man and his wife to be


Walked a wilderness road


With A donkey, supplies and a woman with child


Don’t you know it’s a heavy load

Joseph a good man of Carpenter’s trade


Had made plans to make Mary his mate


Then an angel appeared

 and said Joe don’t you fear


But the Spirit will dance with your date


The Spirit will dance with your date

Chorus


Hey Joseph Keep walking

 Hey Joseph keep walking


Hey Joseph Keep walking

 To Bethlehem


Hey Joseph Keep walking

 Hey Joseph keep walking


Keep walking Joseph

you’re part of the plan”

Hey Joseph by Peter Mayer

Peter’s poetry has such a lovely and gracious way of saying it. He describes what is basically indescribable. The Word becoming flesh. Peter doesn’t try to present it an physiological or theological terms. He elegantly writes,

“Then an angel appeared and said ‘Joe don’t you fear’
 

But the Spirit will dance with your date.” 

Twelve simple words is all takes to put it out there a heavenly birth announcement that has dumbfounded and confounded people of every time and place.


I love the words, “You’re part of the plan.” Joseph probably felt that he was not part of the plan when Mary informed him of her pregnancy. He was the last to know that Mary was to carry and give birth to the Christ Child. When the reality broke through his shock my sense is that Joseph felt like walking away from it all. Perhaps he’d move away and start all over again. But God had different plans for him. God wanted Joseph to walk with Mary through the whole journey to Bethlehem, to Egypt and back home again.

Peter sings,

“
Hey Joseph Keep walking  

Hey Joseph keep walking
 

Keep walking Joseph.”

Perhaps the three words, “Keep walking Joseph” were a little mantra that he even said to himself in order to stay calm with the going got tough. And tough it did get when the neighbors say Mary’s baby bump and started doing the math. It was tough when they had to make the long trek to Bethlehem (House of Bread) where Jesus the Bread of Life was to be born. It got tough when God let them know they needed to go to Egypt for the safety and security of their child.

“
Hey Joseph Keep walking 

 Hey Joseph keep walking 


Keep walking Joseph.”

So today as the Church honors Joseph (the ultimate stand-up guy) take a few moments to consider what promise God is asking you to hold onto and to follow. Spend a little bit of time reflecting on where on when you need “To keep walkin’ cuz you’re part of the plan.”

I always try to hold onto the following passage and let it hold onto me:  “For surely I know the plans I have for you” says the Lord, “Plans for your wellbeing and not for your harm.”

Peace,

rtg