Life's Guestbook (Our Own Book)

A good friend of mine once said in my teenage years (in the not so distant past) that every person we meet writes something in our book of life. Some come and write a sentence or two, others write chapters, and there are even some who only write a word or two.

A song that we're learning in Women's Choir caused me to remember these words, and this friend whom I have heard little from since their familiy moved to Idaho. Thinking about these words and the many people I've met in my life, and relating this idea to this song, the idea has been beautifully transformed into song, I want to claim the message in the song as my own. In my short life, there have been many wonderful people that I've met and some people that were just detrimental and hurtful. The message of this song and the quote from my friend is that because of our encounters with people throughout our lifetimes, we change. It is a permanent change; using a line from the song goes, "... Who can say if I've been changed for the better? I do believe I have been changed for the better. Because I knew you, I have been changed for good."

The song was created for the broadway play, Wicked, and has an amazing message. Here's the lyrics:

For Good

I'm limited:
Just look at me - I'm limited
And just look at you -
You can do all I couldn't do, Glinda
So now it's up to you
(spoken) For both of us
(sung) Now it's up to you:

I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you:

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend:
Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you:

Because I knew you:

I have been changed for good

And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done you blame me for

But then, I guess we know
There's blame to share

And none of it seems to matter anymore

Like a comet pulled Like a ship blown
From orbit as it Off it's mooring
Passes a sun, like By a wind off the
A stream that meets Sea, like a seed
A boulder, half-way Dropped by a
Through the wood Bird in the wood

Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
I do believe I have been changed for the better?

And because I knew you:

Because I knew you:

Because I knew you:
I have been changed for good.