A MUSICAL MEDITATION: TRUTH IS GOD’S GIFT
by The Turtle Creek Chorale, Tim Seelig, Conductor / Interpretive text by Mel White
– Interpretive text by Mel White –
Performed by the Turtle Creek Chorale of Dallas, Texas. Mel White was commissioned for this album, “Psalms,” to provide the lyrics to the opening track. For a sound track to hear this beautifully-rendered anthem composed by Danny Ray, please see the attached recording. We are grateful to the Rev. Dr. Mel White, Dr. Tim Seelig (the TCC’s former conductor), and Sean Baugh, current Artistic Director of the Turtle Creek Chorale, for providing us with permission to use this recording on our website.
Freedom comes to those who love the truth –
Not to those who follow after half-truth, distortion, and lies.
Truth is god’s gift.
Somewhere in your heart, you know what is right and good and true.
Seek it. Find it. Act upon it.
Let it set you free.
And you will be like a tree planted in good, rich soil by the river of life.
The hungry will be fed by your fruit.
The weak will sit in your shade and grow strong again.
No storm will bend your trunk.
No gale will break your branches.
But if you follow after untruth, if you live your life on lies,
You will be like sand in a desert storm.
You will be like leaves in an autumn wind.
And when that moment comes when you see yourself through the loving eyes of god,
You will not stand proudly, but fall gasping to your knees, ashamed.
Your creator will walk beside you on your journey after truth.
But if you follow untruth, you will walk alone.
Freedom comes to those who love the truth.
Truth is god’s gift.
Somewhere in your heart, you know what is right and good and true.
Seek it. Find it. Act upon it.
Let it set you free.
– Mel White
For 30 years, the Rev. Dr. Mel White had served the evangelical Christian community as a pastor, seminary professor, best-selling author, prize-winning filmmaker, communication consultant and ghost writer to its most famous and powerful leaders. He was hired by national publishers to write books — primarily “autobiographies” — for his ghost-writing clients including Billy Graham, Jerry Falwell, D. James Kennedy, and Pat Robertson. In April, 1994, Mel came out of the closet to give hope and healing to other lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Christians, to confront the misleading anti-gay rhetoric of the radical right, and to launch his own fight for justice and understanding for LGBT people. He and his husband, Gary Nixon, have traveled across the country, speaking on university campuses, teaching the “soul force” principles of Gandhi and King, organizing people of faith to do justice.
