In The Fellowship of the Ring, Frodo wishes he were not living during the catastrophe befalling his world. Gandalf replies, “So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time given us.” So what to do? We scrape away confusing, distracting muck overlaying the essence of life, about which there’s never any confusion. We stay vigilant to practical opportunities to magnify life’s essence. We pay closer attention to the miracles in every hour, as this song joyfully calls us to do.

10,000 Maniacs, “These Are Days,” 1992. Written by Natalie Merchant & Robert Buck.

This post is part of Music 100, a love letter to songs. 100 words on 100 songs in 100 days, running from Groundhog Day to May 31, 2025.

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