95. Its the chance of a lifetime in a lifetime of chance, and its high time you joined in the dance.

In the traditions of the Catholic and Anglican churches, as well as other denominations which use a liturgical schedule, many dates are assigned to celebrate the lives or the deaths of people (or in some cases places) in the history of the church, and thus the history of the world. In some cases, entire groups of days are set aside, sometimes in 3s or 7s or 8s or 40s, which all seemed to have significnace amongst religious leaders.

For the last three weeks, a block of days has been set aside here along the Left Bank of the Ohio River at Milepost 606. It is called the Kentucky Derby Festival and its highlight comes tomorrow evening when the "most exciting two minutes in sports" will go off at whatever time the networks can work it into their schedule, sometime around 5:30 pm.

In the book of Ecclesiastes, at the beginning of the Third Chapter, is the "song of the seasons." To everything there is a season according to the scripture. Many folks learned the verses based on Pete Seeger's song, Turn, Turn, Turn, best known in a 1965 version by The Byrds. In Louisville, this week is Derby Week. If, as in the church, there is a feast day or days for a place, today and tomorrow are it for Louisville.

Despite the overcommercialization of all-things Derby, it still remains a special time for Louisville and Kentucky. While many locals do not attend the event itself, and many never have and never will, countless parties are held, jackpots are made, and, as the saying goes, a good time is had by all. Most offices will close early today and Jefferson County's public and Catholic schools have dismissed classes.

To get a feel for the real purpose of the season, and not that of all the activities, each with one or more corporate sponsors, one need only turn to music, as we did at the beginning of this entry. In the Spring of 1980, when ABC Sports was broadcasting the Kentucky Derby, they asked Dan Fogelberg to compose a song for their broadcasts. On the night before the Derby, at the old Red Barn at the University of Louisville, which was a student activities type center, I heard Fogelberg sing his new song, not yet recorded for publication (except for ABC) called Run for the Roses. I still think it is one of the most beautiful ballads ever written. As a 19 year old kid out celebrating the night before the Derby, which used to be a big deal with the Derby Eve Jam and the old Central Avenue bizarre bazaar, chances are I was somewhat involved with celebratory spirits (or some other intoxiacants) at the time, but I've never forgotten that song and its central theme, not on Churchill Downs and all its corporate hoop-la, but on the horse, the noblest of animals, as it has sometimes been called. Here are the lyrics, written and sung by Fogelberg. The song was released a year and a half later on a 1981 album called The Innocent Age.

Born in the valley
And raised in the trees
Of western kentucky
On wobbly knees
With mama beside you
To help you along
Youll soon be a growing up strong.

All the long, lazy mornings
In pastures of green
The sun on your withers
The wind in your mane
Could never prepare you
For what lies ahead
The run for the roses so red --

And its run for the roses
As fast as you can
Your fate is delivered
Your moments at hand
Its the chance of a lifetime
In a lifetime of chance
And its high time you joined
In the dance
Its high time you joined
In the dance --

From sire to sire
Its born in the blood
The fire of a mare
And the strength of a stud
Its breeding and its training
And its something unknown
That drives you and carries
You home.

And its run for the roses
As fast as you can
Your fate is delivered
Your moments at hand
Its the chance of a lifetime
In a lifetime of chance
And its high time you joined
In the dance
Its high time you joined
In the dance --

Ecclesiastes 3:4 say there is a time to laugh and a time to dance. This is it. Enjoy the Derby.

Ecclesiastes 3:8 calls for a time of peace. The Byrds 1965 song calls for a time for every purpose under the sun including a time for peace. I hope it is not too late for that as well.