“Keep Me in the Moment’’: The Song of Our Current Crisis?
Jeremy Camp just released a new music video with a message and story perfectly suited for America’s current quarantine
Jeremy Camp wrote “Keep Me in the Moment’’ for a film (but theaters are closed). He just dropped a new music video, which seems like the perfect theme song to describe the world’s current quarantine.
“Keep Me in the Moment’’ is about family and meaning
As Americans and nations around the world social distance, staying home to protect others from the Coronavirus pandemic, Camp’s new video, released March 20, shows similar American families, together at home. He sings:
“I’ve been thinking ‘bout family and how it’s going so fast. Will I wake up one morning just wishing that I could go back. I’ve been thinking ‘bout lately, maybe I can make a change and let you change me so, with all of my heart this is my prayer.’’
Camp’s story, like our current crisis, couldn’t have been imagined
The “Keep Me in the Moment’’ song and the related film, “I Still Believe’’ tells Camp’s true story: how he met Melissa Henning, the love of his life, in a Bible Study. Just four months after their marriage, Henning died of ovarian cancer at age 21. Camp was just 23.
No one expects to lose their mate and life that soon. Now, 19 years later, the pain and memory are still vivid. Camp told People Magazine:
“It’s the most painful part of my life. I believed that she was going to be healed and we would have this long story together.”
The film, released two weeks ago in theaters, can no longer be seen in public because theaters have been ordered closed. So the film will instead shift to video on demand starting March 27.
Few Americans expected to be “shut down’’ even a few weeks ago…
Here we are, ordered to stay home, thinking about our families, safety, our health and our future. Certain friends and relatives are kept apart for safety’s sake.
Our normal community activities including work, restaurants, movies, traveling, the gym and church are largely off-limits. And Camp sings:
“Singing oh Lord, keep me in the moment. Help me live with my eyes wide open cause I don’t wanna miss what you have for me… show me what matters..’’
Our activities and our economy are stuck in place, suddenly barely able to move. Forced to read more, reflect more from home, Camp adds:
“Throw away what I’m chasing after ’cause I don’t wanna miss what you have for me. Keep me in the moment. Oh, keep me in the moment…’’
Our past was taken away, our future is uncertain…
When the future is uncertain and our past routines and communal activities have been disrupted “the moment’’ is literally all we have.
As Camp sings: “All I got is one shot, one try. One go around in this beautiful life Nothing is wasted when everything’s placed in your hands.’’
The silver lining of our current crisis?
With communities and our very economy closed, most Americans have been forced to stay at home, forced to pull closer together, quarantined with loved ones, reflecting on the moment and the meaning of our very lives.
Camp sings: “So, it’s all eyes on you until the day you call me home.’’
