He Filled Up Our Senses

You fill up my senses like a night in a forest
Like the mountains in springtime like a walk in the rain
Like a storm in the desert like a sleepy blue ocean
You fill up my senses come fill me again. ~John Denver, Annie's Song

For Joyce

Today, October 12, 2003, is the sixth anniversary of the death in 1997 of popular American singer and songwriter, John Denver. He is my wife's favorite singer, and I love his songs also, but my Joyce relates to him and his music on a high spiritual level. Sometimes I feel he may have been one of her soul mates while he was here on earth. I say this without any jealousy because Joyce and I go beyond the soul mate concept. Psychics have called us "twin flames," true halves of one being.

We always watch the movies and documentaries about his life and times that usually appear on television every October 12. Joyce usually sheds more than a few tears that he is gone; his music means so much to her.

When we were getting to know each other around twenty years ago, I and many others listened in sheer delight as Joyce sang his songs a cappella at spiritual gatherings which we attended.

I think that, perhaps, I first fell in love with my wife upon hearing her rendition of Denver's Annie's Song, the first verse of which is quoted in the epigram. My dear wife does not have a professional singer's voice, but she sings like an angel as far as I am concerned.

Listening to her sing John Denver's songs is to receive a special gift from Spirit. . .perhaps twice fold. . . as so many of John's songs are written from the heart.

When I hear the inspiring songs of John Denver, I think about his special gift; he composed with a rare, eloquent simplicity of expression, even childlike at times. Who else could have written:

Country roads, take me home to the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain mama, take me home, country roads.

I do not intend to dwell on John Denver's biography, the difficulties of his personal life or his final legacy to the music world. There are excellent books and movies for you to explore in that regard. You may wish to start at the official John Denver Website.

I will just say that though John Denver reflected the positive side of life in his music that in no way diminishes him as an artist. I mention this because some few critics have derided his music as overly optimistic, Pollyannaish, or even accusing him of following every "vapid" trend.

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