Story Behind The Song

I wrote this song for the teenaged clients of Covenant House. The beautiful letters with their stories of running away from home and living on the streets but then being saved, touch my heart every month. The title and theme line, Just for a Moment, comes from the Trappist monks who spend all of their time watching for a glimpse of God's face, or a whisper of God's voice. "The monk searches out the answer through a whole way of life." It is only the face of God for which the heart of the monk longs, God in Christ Jesus." P 79 "The monk catches a glimpse of Jesus. He looks at him and follows him, goes after him....the monk wants to see the face of God." Trappist p 82 "Let there always be quiet, dark churches in which people can take refuge....Houses of God, filled with His silent presence. There, even when they do not know how to pray, at least they can be still and breathe easily." Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation (ibid) In this song, I envision a lost teenager seated in a pew in such a church. The song tells that person to see God's face, just for a moment, and it will be so beautiful that they will want to stay there. "Just for a moment, see God's face. Just for a moment, feel that grace. Just for a moment, stay there in that place. Just for a moment, believe."

Song Description

A message to people who are feeling desparate, to take just a moment and believe in God, see God's face, feel God's grace.

Lyrics

At times you feel so alone, you've left everything that you have known
'So hard to be on your own
When you spend your time/ wondering why / there's something you can try,
That'll always get you by

CHORUS:
Just for a moment, see God's face
Just for a moment, feel that grace
Just for a moment, stay / there / in / that / place
----------- Just for a moment, believe.

VERSE 2:

When the world won't go your way, and pain leaves a darkened day
You can take those fears away
At least in that small space of time, try to keep an open mind
You never know what you will find.

CHORUS:
Just for a moment, see God's face
Just for a moment, feel that grace
Just for a moment, stay / there / in / that / place
----------- Just for a moment, believe.

BRIDGE -
No matter what shape you're in
Even if you're lost in sin
God still waits for you
And all you have to do..... is

Just for a moment, see God's face
Just for a moment feel that grace
Just for a moment, stay there in that place
-------------Just for a moment, believe.

CODA:
Just for a moment, stay / HERE / in / this / place
----------- Just for a moment, believe...believe...believe.