Richard first heard the song while watching TV. On a commercial for Crocker Bank, a melody by Paul Williams played in the background, and the words moved him. At this point in his life he was still a struggling composer/arranger/musician, but here was a tune that was to change all that. And with this new arrangement of this commercial's melody, he had the hit he was looking for. All he needed was the voice, and that was where his sister Karen enters the story. With his gift for composing, and her angelic voice, the song shot to #1! The song-We've Only Just Begun. A song that for the next decade, and even today, is the most popular song played at weddings. And has even been used to console and dissuade suicide attempts, a song of hope, of new beginnings. The group-The Carpenters, a brother and sister from Downey, California. A duet, that for the next four years would have a dozen hit singles, and establish them in music history.
Richard would go on and become a famous composer, and also accumulate one of the greatest Chrysler car collections in the world, named Yesterday Once More, after one of their hits. Karen, a first class drummer in her own right, would use that angelic voice, along with her God given ability to make Richard's music come alive. Her ability was uncanny, as evidenced on Superstar, written by Leon Russell. Never having heard the song, she got it right on the first take, while reading the words written on a napkin. A true musical team if there ever was one.
But as secure as Richard was, Karen had some inner demons, that appeared in the form of eating disorders. For years she battled anorexia and bulimia, while still trying to maintain an exhausting recording and touring schedule. She underwent treatment, but the pain in her was so deep, that it finally took her life from her-and ended a career, and a relationship with her brother and their fans way too early. At one time they were the Carpenters. Now without Karen he was alone. Without her he was just a Carpenter.
"Just a carpenter, and from Nazareth no less. No one or anything good ever comes from there," the people declared. And looking at this young Nazarene carpenter, there appeared nothing unusual about him. But yet he would end up being the most famous man in the history of the world. He never wrote a song, and there is no evidence he ever sang, but more songs have been written about him than all others combined. He never became famous, at least while alive, and was humble-it was his humility that gave him greatness, for he never brought attention to himself, always giving credit to his father. And even though his early career was as a carpenter, it was rumored he built yokes, a true artisan, he is best remembered for the last three years of his life-a career, like Karen, that at first was thought to be ended by demons, but then he was resurrected-proving to be who he said he was all along-the son of God, and God incarnate.
And it is through him, that we can have eternal life. If "the love that I've found ever since you've been around, your love put me on the top of the world," is your daily blessing, you know Jesus-the man from Nazareth. If like the song says, "just like me, they long to be, close to you," then the holy spirit is flowing from your life, and pointing people to Jesus. But if you don't know him as lord and savior, it is not to late, for today is the day of salvation. Give your heart to him today, and "sing, sing a song, make it simple to last the whole day long." And "don't worry if it's not good enough, for anyone else to hear, just sing-sing a song!" And you know what, he loves to hear from you. And you know what, "you've only just begun, to live..." In Christ Jesus,
love with compassion, "sharing horizons that are new to us... together..."
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com