Here, Elton Veals, Jr. shares the personal story behind, and the writing journey of the song, “Bring The Fields”.
Where do I begin? It’s hard to wrap the gestation period and the delivery of this song in a few short paragraphs, but I will try to invite you all into my heart and mind as I share how the song came to be.
As a writer, the only thing I know how to do is to tell the truth—nothing but the raw, dirty and painful truth.
2014 was one of the most stretching and traumatic years to date in my life. For some reason I found it very difficult to express myself in writing and the very thought of doing so brought such discomfort to my soul.
I never knew that death would come breathing its cold breath upon the glass of my windows.
I never knew that pain would come piercing through the barriers that I set up.
I never knew heartache would come and arrest the life of my family.
I never knew that inhaling would feel so traumatic.
I never knew that tears could burn like acid.
I knew that it is wise for me to write, but in that moment in time I chose to become labile. Was I storing up emotions and feelings only to implode on myself in the future? Or was it that I was just so afraid to actually see the things that were really in my heart and in my head? Truth be told, I was afraid and fear had severely gotten the best of me.
Everything that I am, and everything that I thought I was going to do and be came to a very abrupt halt. Like a rain storm, and its drenching, I saw my life falling, becoming puddles of mess. This is not what I wanted; this is not what I desired. Bleeding was the very body of my family and desperately I found myself struggling to stop the hemorrhage, but it just kept flowing… it kept flowing. The presence of the almighty God and King had never been so close, instructing me to live my life immensely imprisoned in his presence.
You see, August the 8th, both my life and the lives my family would change drastically. Whilst away vacationing in the vibrant city of San Francisco, I received a phone call; A phone call that no child wants to receive. It was my father crying in hysteria that my beautiful and strong mother was currently having a massive stroke. I can still remember my immediate action in that very moment—Prayer. It was what she had taught me to do in any unforeseen or unclear situation, to carry everything to God in prayer. As I began what seemed like the longest journey home, I tried my hardest to remain composed and focused. Never in my life had I ever prayed so hard and felt like my prayers were ineffective. I kept asking God for healing, I kept asking him for a miracle, but more than that I kept asking him for a peace. In that very moment he led me to John 16:7 where Jesus speaks these words to his disciples,
" Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send him unto you”. In that very moment I knew that was the very thing I needed…. "The Comforter”. In that moment I began to “worship” to the melodies of the song “Holy Spirit”. As the bridge of that song played, “Let us become more aware of your presence, Let us experience the glory of your goodness,” I began to allow my life and circumstance to become more aware of his presence. I didn’t find complete peace, but I did experience his comfort. In the months to come I would begin to fully understand that choice. That became my prayer during this difficult time.
Months later, during my moms recovery her health began to fail. It was the week of Thanksgiving, a week where we all take the time to offer up our gratitude and love for the year of the harvest. My family had a lot to be thankful for, but what we didn’t know, was that my Mom’s days were numbered, and that she had completed her task here on earth. One week later my heavenly Father said he needed her with him, and she passed December 2nd. In that moment, exhaling never felt so bad. The sting of death of which they speak, Yes—it is real. But I never questioned God, I never angered my heart towards him. I prayed,"Not our will, but Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”, though my heart is frail and in contempt, I choose to trust you Father.
You see, weeks before that, I had a vision. A vision where I stood on the porch of an old country home out in the mid-west region of the country. As far as the eye could see there were desolate fields of grain, barren and lifeless, begging for rain. I remember equating this to my life in the year of 2014. That year I prayed for Psalms 65:11 to happen in my life, I remember desperately asking for God to “crown my year with a bountiful harvest, to send to overflow of abundance”. There were multiple failed attempts that year to progress forward in the way that I saw fit. But what I didn’t know was that he was working … He was creating moments for me to worship him, moments to become more and more aware of his abiding presence. One of those moments happened while working… 1 week after the passing of my mother while in the middle of doing a patient exam I felt the impression of the Holy Spirit. I had a choice to ignore it, or to yield to it. I chose to yield. After stepping out and into an adjacent stairwell, I allowed him to sing these words over me:
“ I have waited, I have yearned
For the year where you speak your words
Turn the tables of time and speed
Go before me, but please do leave.
Bring the fields that yield a harvest
Bend the days to go the distance
I’m afraid that I will loose it
All because I can’t find you.
Erase the years of my fault and fears
Change the pace I am running in life
Replace my shame with your grace and favor
Give me strength as I’m filled with doubt
Bring the fields that yield a harvest
Bend the days to go the distance
I’m afraid that I will loose it
All because I can’t find you.
Its my choice to bless your name
So I will choose to sing your praise
Though my heart is frail and in contempt
I will pray and not forget your love for these wounds
Like an urn I will live poured out
Full and feeble, yet strong and proud
Everyday I will trust and fail you
This is life, this is human trial
Bring the fields that yield a harvest”.