Brief source of inspiration

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.

And Grace, my fears relieved.

How precious did that Grace appear

The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares

I have already come;

'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far

and Grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.

His word my hope secures.

He will my shield and portion be,

As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

And mortal life shall cease,

I shall possess within the veil,

A life of joy and peace.

When we've been here ten thousand years

Bright shining as the sun.

We've no less days to sing God's praise

Than when we've first begun.

--Amazing Grace, John Newton (1725-1807),

I came across this text on a bathroom door at a restaurant. To be exact, it was at the Ruby of Siam in Evanston, a place I frequented as a kid, but hadn't gone very often since high school. I'd made myself familiar with said text, having sung it in hymns at all sorts of different churches over the years. I scrapped up an a cappella piece with the complete set of text (at least according to the source responsible for providing me with the words above) just today, so I suppose it's a good sign I'm composing again, something I haven't really done for some time. I suppose it's also a good sign, because, between an increasingly daunting job hunt, and lack of contact with friends who are either really busy or just plain gone, it's been an increasingly agonizing situation. I think, for my own sanity, I'm going to compose more, and I'm going to set a finite date for independent job searching/finding before I pack it in and return to Chicago, even if for a brief period of time.