Daily Nourishment for July 3, 2024: This Land Is Your Land with Guidance from Lyrics, Music, and Words by Liz Vice
Daily Nourishment Read Time: 55 seconds
Pause/Prompt/Practice Time: 15 minutes
“This land is your land
This land is my land
From piers of Charleston
To fields of cotton
From the crowded prisons
The streets of Ferguson
This land was made for you and me”
-Liz Vice, “This Land Is Your Land”
Pause.
Take deep breaths with a six-count inhale and a six-count exhale while listening to “This Land Is Your Land” by Liz Vice.
Prompt.
Read the two quotes from Liz Vice below:
“I sat down and re-wrote lyrics of Woody Guthrie’s song “This Land Is Your Land” with my friends Paul Zach and Orlando Palmer just one day shy of the Unite The Right Rally one year anniversary. The purpose was to write lyrics that told the origin story of America. There are a lot of reasons to celebrate being American but one thing that must first be talked about is the history. Healing can’t begin without first acknowledge the gapping wound created by the colonization, the mass genocide of the Indigenous people, and the enslavement of African slaves. There is still much work to be done.” - from Secret Eclectic
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“When I was younger I had a health scare and realized life is short and I need to follow my dreams and so, two years ago, I put my things in storage and decided to travel the world. I've been lucky enough to travel throughout Europe and stay with friends. In this time, I was hit with inspiration to write another record.
In June of 2023, I remembered sitting across from my friend Laki in a cafe in London. It’s called the Lazy Chef and I think about their wraps often. I had my lap top with me and there seemed to be an irresistible urge to open up songs from YEARS ago. This compulsion led me down a path of rewrites and arranging. I had a collection of stories that had a common thread. “Was I actually going to write another record?!” I thought to myself.
So, here I am. I have eight really amazing tracks that I had the opportunity to record in Munich with my friend Tim. I cracked open my piggy bank and had just enough to get the record started. Now, I am coming to you, my supporters and encouragers, and asking if you would like to partner with me and help bring this project to fruition.” - from Liz Vice’s Successful Kickstarter Campaign, “A New Record by Liz Vice”
Practice.
Set a timer for 10 minutes and respond to the lyrics, song, and quotes above and/or the items below through journaling or taking notes:
What stirred in your heart, mind, soul, and body as you listened to Liz Vice’s version of “This Land Is Your Land?
Re-read the quotes in the Prompt portion above. How does having a couple of glimpses into Liz Vice’s creative process intersect with your thoughts about your creative process? What good things can you receive from her words here?
Which historical events and narratives do you want to explore more deeply?
How might engaging with Liz Vice’s music and words help you belong to yourself, others, the world, and God?
Want More?
Listen to The Lord’s Prayer(as heard on BibleProject) arranged by Liz Vice and TENTS
Listen to more of Liz Vice’s music. A few of my favorites include “See the Day,” “Save Me,” and “All Must Be Well”
Liz Vice will be leading a songwriting workshop and performing at this year’s Glen Workshop. During the month of July, Spiritual Direction for Writers® Daily Nourishment will feature Glen Workshop facilitators and other Glen-ish people, places, and things. Enjoy!
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More about Liz Vice from lizvice.com
“Liz Vice has always had a love for storytelling. The Portland native who currently resides in Brooklyn, started her career working behind the scenes in the world of film and video, only to accidentally find herself behind the mic. Liz Vice’s sound is a fusion of Gospel and R&B, with dynamic and soulful vocals, and lyrics, deeply rooted in spirituality, that give her work a timeless feel…
Vice got a knack for performing early. She was raised by her mother as the middle of five children. Every morning growing up, she was awaken by her Mother’s voice singing “rise and shine and give God the glory.” She also found herself frequently stealing away to the basement to dance and lip sync songs from the radio, and soundtracks from her favorite films. Liz taught herself how to play piano, marking the notes on the piano using blue painter’s tape on the the notes of a keyboard, placed by her friends who were taking piano lessons. Her Aunt bought her headphones that she would make young Liz sit with on her head in the living room for hours mimicking the notes she would hear from an instrumental CD.
At the age of 19 Vice’s health declined, and she found herself on hemodialysis for the next three years. Her illness left many scars on her body including those from surgery on a fistula (abnormal connection between an organs). Vice received a kidney transplant in December 2005, which marked the beginning of a time of great healing and perspective.
A year later, Vice became a member of a local church and felt a nudge, that would not leave her alone each Sunday, to sing background vocals on the worship team. Suffering from stage fright, Vice knew that fear could never overpower this unknown “call”. She said yes to the nudge and sang her first solo during a Sunday evening service, “Enfold Me”. The rest is history.
For the past four years, Vice’s music and live performances have put her on the map as an artist to watch. She has been praised and featured by Oregon Public Broadcasts’ One Song, NPR’s World Cafe, Mountain Stage, eTown, NPR’s Weekend Edition, Relevant Magazine, and more. Vice has also been a featured artist in Portland for such events as Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, Moon River, Forecastle, Portland Soundcheck, Soul’d Out Music Festival, Siren Nation Music Festival, Music on Main Street and more.”
Upcoming Workshops & Gatherings:
—The July Co-Writing Schedule is live.
—July 8: Thoughtful Readers Gathering with Anna Gazmarian 7-8 p.m. CT
—July 21-27: Charlotte Donlon will provide a few spiritual direction offerings at the Glen Workshop in Seattle
—July 27: Online Revision Stations Designed by Lauren F. Winner
Today’s Daily Nourishment was provided by Charlotte Donlon.
*Please help us protect our intellectual property, our creative process, and the integrity of our work. Spiritual Direction for Writers® Daily Nourishment is covered under the Spiritual Direction for Writers® trademark. You are welcome to share this link with others, but any other use (written or spoken) is prohibited without written permission from Charlotte Donlon.