Sojourner - Truth in lyricism.

I recall that there existed a figure in history named Sojourner Truth. Interesting name chosen by an interesting person. She was born Isabella Baumfree, and found solace in religion, praying when distressed or threatened. After working for most of her life, she left with her daughter Sophia, soon after the state of New York abolished slavery. She became a traveling evangelist, and changed her name to this famous title. She gave a famous speech in 1854 about her life of labor and how she was still discriminated against as a woman and as a negro. I happen to think it one of the most interesting names I have ever seen. Just those two words, two powerfully connotative words. A sojourner is one who is staying in an area that is not his/her original home. There is almost the promise that someday, sometime, a call will beckon the wanderer home once again.

Two songs placed this concept firmly and romantically in my mind. The first is the hymn "Wayfaring Stranger." It speaks of the trials on the trail to the promised land, a tinge of being alone in the pilgrimage, but never isolated - there is a vision, a hope of reaching that glorious destination.

The second song was by a ragamuffin named Rich Mullins, a late 20th century musical artist. "Land of my Sojourn" was a love letter to the land of promise that was historical America. The tone is tender and fond, but wistful of his real home which he finally entered on September 19, 1997. "Nobody tells you, when you get born here - How much you'll come to love it and how you'll never belong here. So I'll call you my country, and I'll be longing for my home, how I wish that I could take you there with me."

In Leviticus 19:33-34, The Judeo-Christian God laid down a foundation for how the Israelites were to treat such people. "And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. But the stanger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God."

For are we not all as wandering travelers on this mortal plane? We are spiritual beings in a physical world, and the best is yet to come.