What time is it? For Philip Organ, the answer was “Every Time”, as he thought about his response in the mid-1990s. And so, with every swing of the clock pendulum (see here the drawing of the first pendulum clock, designed by Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens in 1657), he admitted that a regular, every-second timing, should have been the standard for recognizing God’s active hand in a person’s life. That was the ideal, but Philip admitted that that was not reality for himself. Another word – distraction, though not explicitly uttered -- was operating among his every time efforts, like weeds occupying space side-by-side with the good crop he was trying to coax in its growth (Matthew 13:24-41). Which of the five senses was intruding with random inputs while Philip attempted to sense God? Which ones don’t in the average individual’s life?
We know little to nothing about Philip Organ, save for the few lines he wrote in ‘Every Time’ and a few other results from 21st Century internet search techniques, though these few spare details do reveal what’s most important about him – his commitment to being a signpost for the Creator. He’s produced songs for at least one album (Surrender, in 2018), and since ‘Every Time’ was apparently produced in the mid-1990s (either 1994 or 1996, according to different sources –see link below, as well as a hymnal), Philip has been making God-pointing music for over 20 years. A picture of him associated with the song ‘Believer’ indicates he was relatively young (less than 50 years old, perhaps?) in 2017. So, for Philip to think about time and how he was spending it, as a young fellow in the mid-1990s, is noteworthy. Introspection prodded Philip to note four different incidents that spoke of God’s character. Prayer showed him a God to whom he could talk openly and honestly, while just the simple act of closing his eyes allowed him to feel His ‘embrace’ (v.1). A ‘child’ and a ‘storm’ might seem to the ordinary observer like evidence of opposing forces, but to Philip they resounded with God’s ‘gentleness’ and ‘awesome power’ (v.2). To Philip’s perceptions, this was indeed a God who any rational person should not ignore. And yet, he could also confess to this same God that ‘so many things…’ (chorus) interrupted his attention, diverting his mind from the ‘glory’ that should have mesmerized him. In his own admission of wandering, Philip abruptly concludes his thoughts with an image of the cross (v.3), and then nothing more. It’s as if Philip is articulating something that God Himself intended to do with His crucifixion – provide a pivotal moment that needs no further exposition. Just look upon your God dying for you, and what does that mean? You figure it out, Philip suggests.
How many times each day does one touch, taste, smell, see, or hear something? Did Philip Organ try this question on for contemplation when he thought about his time expenditure? Using the five senses – which my Creator has given me – is an exercise like wielding a double-edged sword. He would like me to take note of Him in everything, as Philip also suggests in his song. And yet, I might also use these five abilities for evil – blasphemy, drug addiction, pornography, gluttony, crime, lying, pride, etc. The list is pretty long, with many permutations. Are your senses running like wild horses, threatening your sanity and even your mortality? Philip has a suggestion in his brief poem, this prayer-song he offers. See if you can turn those horses in another, vertical, direction.
This site shows a recent album of Philip Organ music, with a photo of the author-composer: https://music.apple.com/us/album/surrender/1438237683
Listen here for rendition of the author-composer’s song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXbwccRzY9o
The link here indicates this is a 1994 song: https://www.hymnlyrics.org/newlyrics_e/every_time.php
The hymnal Songs for Worship and Praise, edited by Robert J. Taylor, 2010. www.songsforworshipandpraise.com indicates the song was written in 1996.
See link here for information on the clock picture: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clock#/media/File:Huygens_first_pendulum_clock_-_front_view.png
Public Domain status of the picture: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Template:PD-US-expired
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