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“A song will outlive all sermons in the memory.”

– Henry Giles

At the time I share this, we are witnessing global unrest, a health pandemic, threats to our safety and freedom, and political polarization. At the same time, we are seeing countless people from across the global community come together to raise their voices for unity, inclusion, and justice. Albeit change is what we say we long for, true transformation and growth are always disruptive and uncomfortable. To make it through challenging times like these, we need one another, and we need all the tools and wisdom we gather together to heal and to construct a more compassionate, intelligent, and inclusive future.

I was privileged to produce a project a few years ago that drew upon ancient wisdom and practical modern practices to help people facing immense physical and psychological challenges. Our intention was to bring greater hope, healing and resilience, and to promote scientifically-proven practices of yoga, meditation, music, and mindfulness to people facing the stress and fear of life-threatening diseases.

To promote the efforts, I created an album under the title Yoga Revolution in collaboration with Terry McBride and with the contributions of a long list of musical luminaries including Sting, Seal, Peter Gabriel, Sheryl Crow, Ziggy Marley, Krishna Das & more. Along with the Yoga Health Foundation, we used the music to help promote free yoga, fitness & mindfulness programs for schools across North America.

Shortly thereafter, in partnership with City of Hope, EarthTones.org, and the Kate Coppola Foundation, we created a Special Edition called Music for Hope. This time, our mission was to help promote alternative and preventive therapies for people facing life-threatening diseases.One song in particular from the album holds a permanent home in my heart and mind and speaks to me from the heart in these times. It is a raw and intimate piano/vocal adaptation of “The Prayer of St. Francis” by that awe-inspiring artist Sarah McLachlan. As part of my ongoing commitment to bring inspiration, healing, and hope in times of need, I share this song again with you today.

While you may already know the words to the song, and you may resonate with their sentiment at this time, you probably don’t know why it has such a deep personal connection for me.

My very Catholic parents named their 6^thson – me – after St. Francis of Assisi, a Christian leader, prophet, and founder of the Franciscan order. Having what other kids considered a girl’s name was a tough cross to bear for a boy growing up on the often-insensitive streets of Detroit, especially amid social unrest that looked very much like what we are experiencing today. Although I sometimes felt like the character in that famous Johnny Cash song, “A Boy Named Sue”, I came to realize my parents’ intentions were loving and they must have seen something far greater in me that I didn’t see in myself.

Ultimately, like any challenge, the confronting experiences of my youth made me stronger. I grew to be grateful for the truth of who I was and for the privilege to bear such a beautiful name. A couple of years ago, I was honored to work with another boy named after St. Francis of Assisi – the modern-day visionary leader and current Pope Francis – a brave new voice for all cultures and all spiritual traditions. Music was also at the heart of our collaboration – an effort to shed light on the millions of people still living in slavery around the globe today. That piece of music, and the video that accompanied it (A Prayer for Freedom), was based on an even older prayer – the Gayatri Mantra.

The “Prayer of St. Francis” is a song and message that resonate deeply with me, and Sarah’s original raw recording is one of my favorite renditions. Illuminated by her beautiful voice, the music and words help me reconnect with my true nature, honor my humility, and re-ignite the soul force within me. They provide me with much-needed solace and wisdom as I contemplate the role I am meant to serve in these current and turbulent times.

While I have no religious agenda, the words of my namesake’s timeless prayer feel as universal and relevant today as they did when we first created Music for Hope, and as I imagine they might have when St. Francis walked this earth with unwavering integrity as an inextinguishable torch for truth, love, and compassion.

To you and your loved ones, I wish you inner peace, hope, health and deep connections of love as you seek moments of joy and calm in the eye of the storm.

With Love and Humility,

Frank (aka Francis) Fitzpatrick

 

The link to the song “Prayer of St. Francis” on the Spotify playlist for Yoga Revolution – Music for Hope.

In case you don’t have Spotify:

Here is a link to the album on Amazon Smile (give % to charity)

Here is a link for the album on iTunes and Apple Music.

Here is another beautiful rendition and video from Sarah with the students from her school in Vancouver, CA.

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About the Author 

Frank Fitzpatrick is a Creative Visioneer, Engagement Expert and High-Performance Coach on the Faculty of Singularity University’s Exponential Medicine.

To connect, go to FrankFitzpatrick.com

To learn more about working 1-on1 with Frank, go to BeyondPerformance.Life

 

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