Tennessee-based Christian singing duo David Leonard and Leslie Jordan – known as All Sons & Daughters – decided to dive into the hymns, poetry, and great figures of ages past in their latest album Poets & Saints. “For in these truths lie the rub, the crux of history past, present, and future: that God never changes, but God changes everything,” explained the artists.
“One of the most beautiful ways to know God better is to learn from those who served Him in other times and cultures…these saints and writers are not abstract, hopeful representations of what we should be,” shared Jamie George, David and Leslie’s pastor who collaborated in the making of the album and the accompanying book. “They were actually really broken people who chose to feel through their suffering. That takes a lot of courage, and that’s why, years later, we call them poets and saints.”
And a journey to find inspiration in the Christian past of course led the Protestant group to an encounter with some of the great saints of the Catholic Church, including St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Augustine, and St. Francis.
St. Therese was the inspiration behind the song “You Are Love and Love Alone,” featured above. Her “little way” drives the song’s simple message to “Love in a simple, meaningful way. It’s the little moments in life that make a huge impact,” shard Leslie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQHfFZWpT1
“Rest in you” was inspired by St. Augustine’s Confessions and written in collaboration with cellist Cara Fox. “Culturally we live in a place of hurry and distraction, fast-paced…do more, get more, produce more,” said Leslie about the song. “Augustine had a similar life. He was very intelligent, wanted to be challenged, chased a lot of fame and money, and found himself sitting on a bench where he met Jesus. It’s a beautiful story and a lot of people resonate with the need for rest.”
Other saints who make their way into the album include St. Francis (“I Surrender”) and St. Patrick (“Christ Be All Around Me”), along with more recent greats like C.S. Lewis. Read more about the journey that inspired the album on the Sons & Daughters website, and listen to all the songs on the saintly album on iTunes.
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And today we celebrate...