Fr. Bill’s CD Lyrics
Paintbrush in the Green : Give Me The Oars
(While on retreat with Sr. Briege McKenna and Fr. Kevin Scallon, Sr. Briege met to pray with me and the Lord gave her a vision of me in a boat with Him. I was struggling against the tide, and He said “If you’d just give me the oars, you’d get much farther.” Later on that visit to Ireland we visited St. Patrick’s Purgatory, an island where the great Saint who converted Ireland went to fast and pray. We had to be taken by motor boat to this holy ground. While there, I shot the photo inside the CD of a rowboat…with oars…the Lord kept reminding me…finally I put it in song form! This lyric has gotten a lot of affirmative feedback…it seems that Jesus likes to row, row, row the boat. And we’re supposed to daily is another TRUST Him. Knowing that intellectually is one thing, actually doing it!)
Underneath torrential rains windy gales ferocious batter Rowing up against
the tide fragile human hopes just shatter My strength feels like nothing
against the waves that break
Wish that this was just a nightmare, but I’m way too wide awake
Then you appear…0 loving Jesus…and you say:
Just give me the oars, I can see you’ve done your best
Trust in me my child, to guide and steer you through this test
Every hurricane will cease when I raise my hand for peace
I’ll lead you through your wars when you
give…me…the oars!
Yet your servant struggles on,
all is spent, I lie exhausted.
Willful pride can’t move this boat
against the winds that tossed it.
Looking up I see you Lord—safe within my reaching.
Gently yet with firmness now,
I hear you humbly teaching:
Just let me in…your loving Jesus…and hear me say:
When you give me the oars, lean your head upon my chest I’ll cast off
your guilt as far as east is from the west
Cast your cares on me and know,
I’m your shepherd and I’ll show...
a river of grace still pours
When you give…me…the oars!
Now the winds have faded quick And my
heart’s no longer failing Help my memory
call your name in tsunamis and smooth
sailing.
When a fearful forecast flies let me turn
to you so tender
Knowing that I have no strength, to your
mercy I surrender
and give control…of all to Jesus…as he
sings:
Just give me the oars…
Just give me the oars, I can see you’ve done your best
Trust in me my child, to guide and steer you through this test
Every hurricane will cease when I raise my hand for peace
I’ll lead you through your wars when you
give…me…the oars!