The song “We Are In The
Sunshine” was written and composed by Holland Boring, Sr. in 1953 and published
by the Firm Foundation of Austin, Texas.
Boring was a member of the church of Christ, and sadly we do not sing as
many of his songs today as in days past.
He has been instrumental in writing songs, teaching how to lead singing,
and editing church hymnals.
Holland Levelle Boring, Sr. (1905-2000), Lyricist & Music
Holland Levelle Boring,
Sr. was born March 15, 1905 in Ridge, Robertson County, TX. His mother died
when he was but five years old; however, she left quite an impression on his
life. He was baptized by M. C. Moser in 1920.
He was a talented song leader and began conducting singing schools at
the age of 15. In fact, he made more
money one summer with singing schools than working on the farm. He attended Abilene Christian College where
he obtained a B. S. degree. He also
pursued graduate work in various Texas universities and colleges. He was a high school teacher and principal
for many years before he became involved with the Firm Foundation. He taught a year at Abilene Christian
University and Fort Worth Christian. He
was taught music by Virgil O. Stamps. He
served as Dean and Principal of Columbia Christian College from 1954-1958 and
conducted the Christian High School Academy Chorus in Portland, Oregon. He also is the composer of Columbia Christian
College’s school song, “Columbia”. He
also served as a gospel preacher for various congregations in Texas.
While with the Firm
Foundation, Boring edited: Awakening
Songs (Firm Foundation Publishing, 1971), Songs for the Master (Firm Foundation Publishing, 1975), Gems for His Crown (Firm Foundation
Publishing, 1977), Hymns of Praise
(Firm Foundation Publishing, 1978), and Songs
of Hope (Firm Foundation Publishing, 1979).
He is credited for writing about 100 hymns. His “He Is Near” was one of the more popular
songs which appeared in Our Garden of
Song volume of hymn writers among churches of Christ.
Holland Boring, Sr.
taught in many singing schools including teaching along with Austin Taylor in
the Texas Normal Singing School. He was
instrumental in the establishment of the Haskell Singing School too. He is also one of the founders of Foundation
School of Church Music along with Reuel Lemmons in 1968 in Austin, TX. The Foundation School is still in existence
under the direction of Cecil and Wade Price which is dedicated in instruction
of congregational music theory.
Boring was affectionately
called “Paw-Paw” by those who knew him. He
was married to Gladys Lucille Bullock Boring on Bryan, TX in 1930. They had three sons: Holland Boring, Jr., Kenneth Boring and Don
Boring. His wife and three sons all
preceded him in death. Holland Levelle
Boring, Sr. passed away Aug. 1, 2000 in Arlington, TX. He is buried in Steep Hollow Cemetery in
Bryan, Texas.
We Are In The Sunshine
The prophet Isaiah
recorded words from the Lord: “For so the Lord
said to me, ‘“I will take My rest, and I will look from My dwelling place like
clear heat in sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.’” (Isaiah 18:4, NKJV) The thought is one of a clear outlook when
matters are clear and the time to take action is certain.
It seems that the weather
in Northeast Ohio has had more than its fair share of what is called “partly
cloudy”! Turns out, it is not just the
imagination. In fact, one study of cloud
cover of major cities ranked Cleveland fifth in the nation with over 200 days
of heavy clouds covering at least 75 percent of the sky. We long for blue skies
and sunny days!
I can recall going on a
mountain hike in the Adirondack Mountains in Northern New York. The Adirondack range, which is separate from
the Appalachians, is sometimes called “Adirondack High Peaks” for the number mountains in excess of 4,000 feet. Our goal was to climb the 17th
highest, Mount Saddleback, which is 4,515 feet high. It was overcast that day. I had worked out at the gym in preparation
for this hike; however, I wish I would have had more time to prepare
better. I was physically exhausted when
I reached the peak, and I had to climb back down the mountain before night
fall. I recall that our hiking party
became divided into two parties. The seasoned group went on ahead of the group
that I was in. When I finally reached
the peak of Mount Saddleback, the seasoned group was heading out to return to
the base. We decided we were going to
eat our lunch even though it was cold, cloudy, and sprinkling. The seasoned group bid us good luck and began
the descent. Then! All of a sudden! A burst of warm sunshine! We sat on the top of that rocky platform and
ate our lunch in the warmth of the sunshine!
What a wonderful feeling that was!
God provides for all
mankind on this earth, as Jesus said: “But I say to
you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate
you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may
be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on
the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew
5:44-45, NKJV.) Christians receive
physical blessings and are not exempt from pain and suffering either. But on another level, there are certainly
providential and spiritual blessings God bestows upon those who are His. Christians both walk in the light and are to
be lights to others to find their way to the Father. Being a child of God provides us comfort in
the knowledge that even when clouds gather here on this earth, we have sunshine
in our walk with Christ. As the storm
clouds gather, the skies darken, the lightning flashes, and the thunder
crashes, we can look with the eye of faith past the immediate threats to a
clear blue sky and sunshine that gives us confidence that the storms of this
life, no matter how severe these may be, will eventually give way to the
sunshine of God’s love.
--------------------------------------------
SOURCES:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Boring&GSiman=1&GScid=1756258&GRid=23788284&
George
C. Finely, Editor, Our Garden of Song
– A Biography of Song Writers of the
Church of Christ and Articles and Other Items of Interest of Our Worship in
Song, West Monroe, LA: Howard
Publishing Company, 1980.
http://www.foundmusic.org/
V. E. Howard, Editor, and
Broadus E. Smith, Associate Editor, Church
Gospel Songs & Hymns, Texarkana, TX: Central Printers & Publishers, 1983.
Bonnie Miller and Pearl
Howarth, Columbia Christian College: A
Comprehensive History A Collaborative Work of Love, Portland, OR: Cascade College, 2009.
Liz Osborn, “Cloudiest
Cities in America,” Current Results –
Weather and Science Facts, https://www.currentresults.com/Weather-Extremes/US/cloudiest-cities.php,
Accessed 26 March 2016.
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