This song is essentially a prayer and was written to express a desire to live as fully into the light of the Creator’s Love as I can. The youth at the church I used to serve challenged me to perform it in front of our congregation which has a predominantly white membership after hearing me do some songs at other churches with predominantly black memberships. Their rationale was that there was an incongruity in how I showed up if I was not willing to share this part of my expression in both places. I agreed not knowing how it would be received. Watch the video to find out how it went.
Updated on December 4, 2022
I am grateful that after more than a 4 year journey, Take This Life has finally made its way out into the world. It has been a blessing to me. I hope it blesses everyone it comes in contact with because you are made to shine. #makeitlight
To see this song on other online platforms click here.
I’m using Take This Life to create a #makeitlight challenge to highlight good being done in the world. Right now I’m still on a social media and blogging fast. SooBut, when I’m done, I’ll put the song out there more and share it on socials. If you happen to decide to share it online, can you use the #makeitlight tag?
(When you shine your Light it isn’t just for you.
It’s for everybody else that’s been watching what you do.)
Take this life
Make it right
Take this life
Make it Light
To see…
You ever had those thoughts that wouldn’t go away?
They’re runnin’ though your mind like every single day.
Wake up in the mornin’
Get on your knees and pray
Don’t believe it works
But you do it anyway
That’s what it’s like when you feelin’ hopeless
Lookin’ at your life and you’ve got no focus
You say, “It gets better.”
Swear to God you know this
But you caught up in the mix
Don’t where your flow is
This is the way of the American dream
We think we see clearly
But it isn’t what it seems
Addicted to consumption
So we livin’ like we fiends
Only find meaning
When we get a bunch of things
Sooo…
Take this life
Make it right
Take this life
Make it Light
To see…
You know the Way
That’s what they say
That’s why I pray
To shine like the Day
Sooo…
Take this life
Make it right
Take this life
Make it Light
To see…
Here’s a little something
I’m getting off my chest
It’s been a long time
Since last I confessed
I denied you
Thinking I’d get the rest
But life without you
Is a life that’s a mess
The best of me
Is messin’ with the rest of me
It’s testin’ me
At least until I get to see
I’m blessed to be
Livin’ with you next to me
‘Cause life within you
Is for X to see
You see
They say you know the Way
I’m inclined to believe it
Though never in my life
Have I seen one to achieve it
You told us how to do it
I’ll be shocked
If we gon’ heed it
Then we looking all surprised
By the fact that we defeated
Soo…
Take this life
Make it right
Take this life
Make it Light
To see
You know the Way
That’s what they say
That’s why I pray
To shine like the Day
Sooo…
Take this life
Make it right
Take this life
Make it Light
To see…
When you shine your light
It isn’t just for you
It’s for everybody else
That’s been watchin’ what you do
You can talk that talk
But the walk shows what is true
Are you a hypocrite
Or the proud and the few?
That’s the kind of question
I ask myself daily
Trying to get back to my roots
As if my name was Alex Haley
You don’t like my style
But never will you play me
‘Cause I’m gon’ shine my light
Till the day that they take me
You say I know the way
‘Cause if you do, I’m supposed to
I’m glad you chose me
Even when I hadn’t chose you
The world is out of order
And everybody knows it
How’s a nation under you
When all you are, it opposes
If they gon’ be that Pharaoh
Then I’m gon’ be that Moses
They don’t want to see us shine
‘Cause when we do it exposes
So I’m gon’ keep speaking
Til everybody knows this
It’s when we turn to you
That we see where the flow is
You know the Way
That’s what they say
That’s why I pray
To shine like the Day
Sooo…
Take this life
Make it right
Take this life
Make it Light
To see…
Below is the original performance of the song that I did as a pastor.
Below is my final sermon as a pastor where in my farewell, I remind the community that, as the song Take This Life says, “YOU KNOW THE WAY”. The message ends with Asha singing, Change Gonna Come by Sam Cooke.
The Roofless Church 
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