Anthem Feature: Mixed Voices Within Us Flows a River

Mark A. Miller, text by Lindy Thompson |

CGA1701 SATB with piano

Frequent collaborators Mark A. Miller and Lindy Thompson have teamed once again, crafting a beautiful new mixed piece for youth and adult choirs.

CGA1701 Within Us Flows a River features Mark’s fresh, lyrical melody and Lindy’s poignant text. I reached out to Lindy to ask what prompted her lyrics, and here’s what she had to say:

“In 2013, following a season of great personal loss, I began to learn and cultivate a new way to perceive and relate to God. I discarded my former neat containers for God and was constantly exploring new ideas and metaphors through the writing of poetry. I wrote a piece called “The River” at that time. Later, I began to think it should be sung, so I turned it into a lyric. The first lyric was good but didn’t go anywhere. Years later, I entered into a mentoring relationship and began to rework all my unpublished lyrics, and once I had worked with this one again, it was a seed ready for planting. Mark’s music gives the words a life way beyond what they had on paper, and the tune and harmonies take both the singers and listeners to a place of great hope and promise. The river that is God is beautiful, indeed.”

Lindy has graciously given Choristers Guild permission to print the full text of her poem, The River (below) and encourages congregations to share the text to complement the singing of the anthem.

“Within Us Flows a River” would make a wonderful addition to Earth Day observations, Pentecost Sunday, and baccalaureate services. It also makes a thoughtful choice for milestone moments which mark growth in Christian life and service: baptism, commissioning, and confirmation.

The River

BY LINDY THOMPSON

There is a river that is God running through my soul. It is where I live and move and have my being.

The pulse and flow of my life are found within that river. The dancing light of my joy, the solemn depths of my sorrow, my cherished memories, like varied stones –all are held safe within that sacred water.

I was born from that river. In that river I was baptized. Through that river my sins are washed away. Within that river I pray. From the nurturing of that river, I grow. To that river I will go when I die.

This holy water runs through the hearts of all of God’s children, every unique person whom God’s hands have made.

Through the grace of God, the river is discovered. With patience and yielding, there comes softly to the soul an awareness of a Holy Presence, greater than can be imagined, suffused with love and tenderness, quietly delighted with its beloved creation.

There is a river that is God within each of us, flowing with living water, giving life and freedom to all who avail themselves of its gifts.

Come to the water. Step in boldly, drink deeply. The river of God’s love flows eternally within us, and we are forever made new in its life-giving water.

Copyright 2022 Lindy Thompson. Reprinted by permission. www.lindythompson.com