“I love the song. Where did you find that? Did you write it?” My best friend’s text popped up on the screen of my phone, and I smiled. She had reached not only a turning point in Field of Ashes but also one of my favorite moments. The moment in which one song, which so beautifully illustrates one woman’s walk with Christ, changes the life of another woman. But the song you read in the book today, is not the song that was originally there.
When I first started writing Field of Ashes, I came to this point in the story and immediately knew what hymn would best touch the situation. I built the entire scene around I Surrender All. It fit perfectly, and carried enough tension in and of itself to move the scene forward—and then I discovered a problem. Many drafts into the process, I discovered that my original research had misinformed me. I Surrender All was actually written 13 years after the story of Field of Ashes takes places.
I was crushed. I couldn’t think of another song, especially from the right era, that would fit the scene as well as that song, nor one that would convey the message of the book so perfectly. I didn’t cry, but I came close. How would I ever salvage that pivotal moment in the book?
William Faulkner said, “In writing, you must kill all your darlings.” But this! This was like killing the whole book. I bemoaned my dilemma for hours. Finally, I told my dad about my disappointment. Dads always seem to look at things so matter-of-factly.
“So write your own song,” he said. Just like that. Write your own song. Really?
But then I thought, “Why not? I already have the basic idea of what the song needs to say. It wouldn’t be the first song I’ve written, and I hope very much that it won’t be the last.”
So I retreated to my bedroom with my computer, a hymnal containing I Surrender All, and a lot of prayer, and began translating the message of that song into my own words. To my surprise, it took little more than 45 minutes. It has it’s own melody, but it isn’t very good.
In the book, the song appears handwritten on a single sheet of paper and is attributed to “E.F.,” someone you will meet only by reading the rest of the story.
Emily’s Song
With open hand, give all to Jesus
With yielded heart, thine all release.
Press now thine hand into the Savior’s
In trust and love, sit at His feet.
Give all to Jesus,
In love surrender.
Yield up thy will and embrace the Savior.
Give all to Jesus,
Who left Heaven’s splendor
Yield up thy heart and thine all surrender.
Kneel at His feet in humble worship.
The pleasures of this world forsake.
“Take me, O Lord, my life I offer,
Thy will be done and not my own.”
“Made fully Thine through Thy salvation,
“Bought with a price of pain and woe,
“Lord, let me feel Thy glorious presence,
“And ever know that I am Thine.”
“I yield myself to Thee, Lord Jesus
“Fill me with power and love and grace.
“Thy blessing on my life’s long journey
“Until the day, I see Thy face.”
This is the first in a short series of blogs related to Emily’s Song, be watching for the next installment.
PS. AS I WRITE THIS, WE’RE DOWN TO THE LAST 35 HOURS IN THE KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN TO SEE WINTER’S PREY CONVERTED TO AUDIOBOOK. WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO. IF YOU HAVEN’T CHECKED IT OUT YET, YOU CAN SEE THE PROJECT AND THE REWARDS HERE.