Behind the Lyrics: The Secret Place

 When I'm home in Washington, I serve as a youth leader for my church's youth group.  Due to covid, I was home, and youth group was online.  Nick Rosas, the youth pastor of my church, taught on the Lord's prayer for a number of weeks over Zoom.  I will never forget when he referred to the act of prayer as a secret place where heaven and earth combine.  He portrayed prayer as larger than life; it is a privilege.  No longer are prophets or priests needed to communicate with God.  I found myself challenged to look at prayer as something greater than just a symbolic ritual.  During this time, my fear of the dark and night heightened.  I would not characterize this fear as nyctophobia, but it definitely was real and affected my mental health.  Yes, even a 6'3' twenty year old college student can be afraid of the dark.  I first remember experiencing this fear the night before my first day as a high school senior.  For some reason, I thought I would die.  All of my anxiety surrounding death and if I would go to heaven plagued my mind to the point that I got up, walked downstairs, and started talking with my dad.  There are still some nights where I go to bed and believe my heart has stopped beating or my lungs have stopped breathing.  It goes against all rational thoughts, but if it seems real to the mind, then it carries on the fear of being real.  But then I started praying before bed.  Not just asking God to keep me safe while slowly falling asleep, I actually started communicating with God.  It helped calm my ever active mind and gave me the peace I needed to sleep.  I consistently follow the ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method in forming my prayers.  The method allows me to cover different areas of life rather than just requesting.  As for the guitar part in this song, I was inspired by a chord progression from the song No Excuses.  It's an Alice in Chains song, and I found the way they played certain chords to create an ethereal feeling.  When I move into the first transition after I sing "Now, I'm in the secret place," this progression can be heard.  I put my own spin on it though. 

Lights out, clock ticks

Mind race, and darkness,

Fear, and now I'm alone

Nightmares, strange creaks

Dandruff, exposed feet,

lust, I only hope for sleep


Sit up, lights on

Chapter, on Babylon

Reveal, the end times to me

Fold hands, look up

Questions, repentance,

Now, I'm in the Secret Place


Two worlds,

Earth and heaven

Come together and form the secret place


Dear Father

Please rescue me 

From the dark


You hear my voice

quench my tears

keep me safe

I can't see you

but I know you're there

in the secret place


Adoration, Confession

Thanksgiving, supplication

Dear Father

Our Father in heaven hallowed be thy name

Secret Place

Thy Kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven

Dear Father

To thine be the power and glory forever and ever

Secret place


Amen


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