Stanton Lanier / Sky Whisper Sound, LLC

Scripture inspired piano to refresh your spirit

Each Light-Filled Hour

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Today is release day for Each Light-Filled Hour. You can stream on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, and all services, or click below to listen as you read the story behind this new song. I hope the melodies and rhythms bring you joy and peace.

 

This piece has a happy, uplifting mood, as it celebrates the gift of each new day. As I composed Each Light-Filled Hour I was reflecting on all the things I have to be thankful for, instead of allowing negative thoughts to frustrate me. Even when things are not going my way, if I step back and shift my perspective, I realize there are many blessings to notice when I pause and look for them. Ecclesiastes 11:7-8 reads, “Oh, how sweet the light of day, And how wonderful to live in the sunshine! Even if you live a long time, don’t take a single day for granted. Take delight in each light-filled hour, Remembering that there will also be many dark days And that most of what comes your way is smoke.” (MSG) These words of wisdom help my thinking shift from concerns over the past or future to cherishing the present moment. They help me set my heart on things above instead of earthly things (Colossians 3:2), and remind me to be grateful to God for His faithfulness. He is with me in each hour, each day, each week, each month, and each year, even when it may not feel like it. This is part of living by faith, to have faith even when I have fear and doubt. “…the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.” (Psalm 32:10, NIV)

Musically, I wanted to challenge myself to have several elements that were the same, symbolizing God’s constant presence, strength, and care for us in each light-filled hour. This happens with the long undertones of low strings, as well as the time signature and chord pattern remaining the same. All of these repeat underneath throughout the song. The melodies and rhythms were born from a second challenge, which was to express joy and wonder, with a sense of happy, child-like faith. My natural tendency is to take things seriously, and to ask “Why?” when a decision requires faith and risk. Each Light-Filled Hour is evidence of God restoring His joy, peace, and hope in my heart, and inspiring me to ask “Why not?” when He is prompting me toward an exciting possibility or opportunity which requires me to depend on Him. The piano, choir, horn, strings, and percussion all work together to create and uplifting, energizing experience.

I hope this piece makes you smile, reminds you to make the most of your life today, and resurrects a memory from the past which filled your heart with joy. God’s blessings to you, and wishing you His grace and peace. – Stanton

How does Each Light-Filled Hour speak to you, and “sing” over you life today?

“Oh, how sweet the light of day, And how wonderful to live in the sunshine! Even if you live a long time, don’t take a single day for granted. Take delight in each light-filled hour…” (Ecclesiastes 11:7-8, MSG)

My Spirit Refreshed

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Today is release day for the new song My Spirit Refreshed, now streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, and all music platforms, or you can click below to listen as you read the inspirational notes underneath.

 
This musical idea began with Proverbs 11:25 which has been special to me for many years. “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” I was also thinking of Johann Sebastian Bach’s famous quote, “The aim and final end of all music should be unto the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.” As this verse and quote took root in my heart over the years, I began to encourage people in conversation. If we all seek to glorify God and refresh the souls of others in our life and work, then our light will shine more brightly in the world as we are a blessing to people.
 
For me refreshment includes experiencing peace, rest, hope, beauty, joy, and more as I have time alone or time with others. This can be in day to day life or when I am being intentional to unplug and relax in a beautiful setting, perhaps beside the ocean shore or in the mountains. I am sure you have some favorite places in the world to help you refresh. I love this Scripture passage and Bach quote because, in addition to seeking our own refreshment, the words encourage us to be refreshed by refreshing others.
 
Initially I envisioned some rhythm in the music to give it an upbeat feel and express the joy of being refreshed. However, as I searched for the right instruments and emotion, the piece began to take shape as a gentle dance on the piano, accompanied by soft strings and French horn. The meter begins in 4/4 time, then becomes 3/4 time, which is the same as a traditional waltz. The dance continues with 6/8 time, a third time signature which elevates the emotion as we listen. Even though the tempo is slow to medium throughout, it feels like it changes slightly for each time signature, even though the beats per minute are staying very nearly consistent. This musical approach became a new lens for viewing my own refreshment, as well as being refreshed by refreshing others. There is depth and richness in these experiences, with layers of beauty and meaning for ourselves and the lives we touch. The composing was exciting as I began to see how the time signatures could represent life’s gentle rhythms instead of using percussion instruments in the piece.
 
I pray the music and these thoughts are refreshing to you, and that your life and work continue to multiply refreshment in the lives of people you serve regularly, people you encounter periodically, and even people you may see only once in a lifetime.
 
How does My Spirit Refreshed speak into your story?
 
Proverbs 11:25 from a few Bible versions…
“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” (NIV)
“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” (ESV)
“The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.” (MSG)
“A generous person will be enriched, and the one who provides water for others will himself be satisfied.” (NET)

Seeing Everything Beautiful

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The new track Seeing Everything Beautiful just released this week. Stream on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, and all music platforms, or click below for some moments of peace, hope, and beauty. You can also read the song story as you listen…

 
This is my first song to feature a new, state-of-the-art guitar software sample, capturing a world class player and connecting their skill and technique with my fingers on the keyboard. Gentle piano chords in the background keep the rhythm, and soothing orchestral horns and strings provide harmonies underneath.
 
My inspiration began with a different idea for a theme and title, but nothing magical happened for a couple of days. In searching and investigating some other familiar Bible verses, the Scripture from Ecclesiastes 3:11 caught my eye and heart which says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” This verse inspired the song Eternity back in 2005, on my 4th album The Voice. However, this time the “everything beautiful” stood out for me. I have to be intentional to slow down, pause, and take notice of the beauty around me each day, or else I will miss it. 
 
The emotion in this music expresses God’s beauty over our life, our relationships, our circumstances, life’s ups and downs, and many other aspects of life where beauty is there for us to receive if we see it. There is some mystery, wonder, and poetry to the idea we can see God’s beauty in everything, and over everything, if we look more closely. I hope Seeing Everything Beautiful washes over you and brings you a sense of knowing God sees you, loves you, and knows you and your every need in this very moment.
 
How does Seeing Everything Beautiful speak into your story right now?
 
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11, NIV)
 

Prayers for a Lifetime

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Today – July 20, 2022 – is release day for Prayers for a Lifetime. You can stream on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, and all music services, or by clicking below. As you listen, scroll down to read some of the story behind this song…

 

“Life is short. God is big.” This phrase comes to mind every time I think of Bible verses speaking about how short our time is on earth. For example, Psalm 90:12 “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom,” and Ephesians 5:16 “…making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” For me these are reminders that heaven is our true home, and we are just passing through. Prayers for a Lifetime comes from deep places in my heart and soul. I have experienced great loss and great blessings. I have had times of victory and times of struggle. Life has brought moments of sanctuary which are like a cool, refreshing waterfall, and moments of desert which are like a parched land causing me to ask, “Where are you God? Why is this happening?” 

Some of the piano notes in the chorus are “singing” the words “a prayer to the God of my life” from Psalm 42:8. This song takes a long look back on life, from God conceiving me in my mother’s womb and knowing everything about me before I was born, even the numbers of the hairs on my head (Psalm 139, Jeremiah 1:5, Luke 12:7), to a lifetime of memories from childhood until today. By God’s grace and faithfulness, I can look back and look ahead, knowing He is with me in good times and bad. “But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.”

As I composed the music I reflected not only on prayers for my lifetime, but prayers for other lifetimes — my wife, children, family, relatives, and friends, and prayers for every person around the world who hears my music, and hears this new song. May we all grow in pursuing our heavenly Father, surrendering to Him, longing to hear and obey His voice, and experiencing His grace and goodness in our lives. Thank you Jesus for being the way, and the truth, and the life (John 14:6), and for the gift of eternal life with you forever (John 3:16), far beyond my short lifetime on earth.

Thank you for listening to and reading about Prayers for Lifetime. Wishing you God’s grace and peace, Stanton

Here are three version of Psalm 42:8…
By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life. (NIV)
By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. (ESV)
But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life. (NLT)
 

Come and Talk with Me

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Today – May 24, 2022 – is release day for Come and Talk with Me. You can stream on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, and all music services, or by clicking below. As you listen, scroll down to read the inspiration behind this song…

 

Don’t we all have a friend or family member who we want to talk with, or who we want to come and talk with us? The title of this piece speaks to this universal human desire, for another person to “come and talk with me.” Yet the context of these words from Psalm 27:8 is an invitation from God, asking us to come and talk with Him. In Psalm 27:8 the psalmist writes, “My heart has heard you say, ‘Come and talk with me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.'” (NLT) Other versions of this Scripture speak to seeking God, seeking His face, worshiping God, praying to God, and chasing after God. God’s simple invitation to Come and talk with Me is deep and rich with meaning.

Psalm 27 begins with, “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” Throughout the Bible God promises to be our Savior, Protector, Provider, Comforter, Healer, Guide, and much more. When I put my faith and trust in Him as Father, and seek to obey Him, God is always faithful to be with me. He is filled with love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and patience in response to my sin, and when I fall short of His holiness. Jesus is the only Perfect and Holy One, without sin. He invites each of us to be saved by His grace and forgiveness when we receive this gift by faith. We can come and talk with Jesus and God with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Musically there are two primary themes. The introductory theme has some rhythmic movement to symbolize life’s busyness. Even though coming to talk with God is a simple invitation, it is not so easy most of the time. The main chorus theme which answers is an expression of when we begin to experience God’s voice, and when we purse coming to talk with Him. The beauty and wonder elevate musically to illustrate the blessing of being in fellowship with Him. The “life is busy” theme returns once more, but the “hearing God’s voice” theme becomes what the song is about. This chorus theme is repeated to the end of the song with various solo instruments, orchestra, and choir joining the piano, sometimes in unison, and sometimes with a counter melody or harmony. The music fades slowly to a gentle chord ending, symbolizing walking through life on earth, and into eternity in conversation with God, speaking our heart and listening to Him. I hope this piece is uplifting to your life and faith journey, and offers you peace and encouragement in your current circumstances.

How does “Come and Talk with Me” speak into your story right now?

My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” — Psalm 27:8 (NLT)

Harmonies of Light

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Today is release day for the new song Harmonies of Light. You can stream on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, and all music platforms, or you can click below. As you listen, scroll down and read some of the story behind this song.

 

The new title Harmonies of Light surfaced when I came across Isaiah 45:7, which talks about how God forms light and makes harmonies. These are only two of His vast, infinite capabilities, and they are definitely worthy of musical expression! I also found the word harmonies used in Philippians and Colossians, and included all three passages down below.

Since Johann Sebastian Bach is my favorite composer, and he phrased my favorite quote about music, I was inspired to use the opening chord progression and harmonies from his famous Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major. If you haven’t heard it before, you should look it up (renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma performs a gorgeous version on YouTube). After finding the left hand chords, I began experimenting with melodies in the right hand. The ideas began to flow over a couple of days, and the opening section began to take shape. I initially thought I would continue to use Bach’s harmonic chords, but the initial sequence launched me into a new place. The Cello Suite harmonies became a slow introduction theme, followed by a variation on this with piano and a solo clarinet. Then I found my own chord progression and melody, which became the central theme of the piece. It appears first at the 2:25 mark, with piano and harp, and is repeated from 3:20 to 4:15 with the clarinet, orchestra and choir joining in. The introductory theme returns again for a slow, beautiful ending with its beautiful harmonies. The very end features a hint of the main theme melody to tie everything together and complete Harmonies of Light.

In my 2021 video series Piano with Stanton Lanier my opening words for each of the 12 episodes is “…I believe we all have a song in our heart, and we can think of our life as a song as we seek to make a positive difference in the world.” And the Bach quote I love is, “The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.” If we seek to glorify God and refresh the souls of people through our lives, this is one way to be a harmony of light in the world. I pray your light shines brightly today!

How does “Harmonies of Light” and its inspiration speak to you?

“I am God, the only God there is. I form light and create darkness, I make harmonies and create discords. I, God, do all these things.” — Isaiah 45:7

“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.” — Philippians 4:8-9

“He (Jesus) was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he’s there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so expansive, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross.” — Colossians 1:17-20

Wiping Away Every Tear

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The new song Wiping Away Every Tear just released today. It is available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, and all other music platforms, or you can click below. As you listen, scroll down and read the inspiration behind this piece. (The “Explicit Lyrics” indication on some music services is an unfortunate error which hopefully will be corrected and removed soon.)

 

I was inspired to compose and record Wiping Away Every Tear to express the need for hope and healing in times of loss or sadness. During twenty-two years of composing Scripture inspired instrumental music, within my fourteen albums and twenty-one singles there are some melodies and harmonies which “speak” to real life moments when we have tears, distress, or sadness. Hope, healing, and even forgiveness can all be found in time, and are available from God by His grace when we seek Him and ask Him for help. This can also require surrendering or releasing a circumstance to Him. This has helped me make progress toward not being anxious about anything, and experiencing God’s peace which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7).

Fear and anxiety are issues I have faced for much of my life, but God has continued to offer hope and healing. I have found Him faithful to guard and protect, and even bless my heart and life with His goodness and faithfulness. I hope this melody will inspire you and encourage you if you are facing any type of loss or sadness. The verses below were the inspiration behind this song, and have been helpful to me.  Wishing you God’s grace and peace today, and in your days ahead, Stanton

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” — Revelation 21:4

“…he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.” — Isaiah 25:8

Sky Whisper – Treasures of Peace II

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The new song Sky Whisper (track 17) and album Treasures of Peace II are available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, and all other music platforms, or you can click below. As you listen, scroll down for the inspiration behind this new song and album.

 

Sky Whisper is the name of my studio which I created in 2016. “Sky” is another word for “God” and “Whisper” is another word for “Voice,” so for me the studio means “God’s Voice.” In my composing and creating I want to surrender every note and song, to glorify God and refresh the souls of people (this is what Johann Sebastian Bach believed the aim and final end of all music should be, to glorify God and refresh the soul). Treasures of Peace II is my second listener favorites collection, featuring seventeen pieces of music created from 2015 (Breathe) to the beginning of 2022 (Sky Whisper). The track selections include favorites from albums Climb to the Sky (2016) and So Loved (2018), as well as many singles released in 2020 and 2021, featuring both piano and orchestral works.

Musically, Sky Whisper is filled with melodies and meaning. The introduction and ending symbolize God’s ever presence, from eternity past to eternity future, with cinematic piano and powerful orchestra string swells. There is tension in learning how to hear God’s voice and and practicing this. The rhythmic cello and high piano represent life’s walk, the search, and the longing for God’s voice. A slower chorus follows representing how we begin to experience God and His voice, and we realize there is more for Him to reveal to us if we continue our pursuit. The music returns to the rhythmic walk but now it is deeper and richer, with more happening musically as God’s voice becomes more familiar. The chorus follows with its melody and the opening melody overlayed, more complex musically, yet more simple and intimate as we grow in hearing and knowing God’s voice. Then we are introduced to a third musical section (we can refer to these sections as theme A rhythmic verse, theme B chorus, and theme C bridge or second chorus). Theme C expresses a deeper knowing and longing, what C.S. Lewis refers to as “further up and further in” as we taste more of heaven on earth, along with the sweetness and beauty of intimacy with God.
 
The song then returns to the familiar early melodies, in a way remembering our past and need for growth in Christ, with new beautiful melodies woven in, symbolizing how God is with us always, even when we don’t feel His presence. The ending revisits the opening. God has been God from eternity past until now, and He will be for all eternity in the future. The rhythmic cello ends hopefully walking with God (in a major key) to the end. This hopeful ending is a shift from earlier in the song, when there is more tension, searching, and a haunting beauty from a combination of minor and major keys and scales. In the beginning, earlier in our life’s walk we are longing for something more and, as was the case for me, I didn’t know that hearing God’s voice was what I needed most. In my story I was thirty years old before I fully surrendered and ask God to speak to me. The sooner and more deeply we surrender, the more God has to reveal to us in our life and faith journey.
 
How does Sky Whisper speak into your story?
 
“With one breath he clears the sky, with one finger he crushes the sea serpent. And this is only the beginning, a mere whisper of his rule. Whatever would we do if he really raised his voice!” — Job 26:13-14 (MSG)
 
“A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn’t to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn’t in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn’t in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper.” — 1 Kings 19:12 (MSG)
 

Riding the Clouds

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The new song Riding the Clouds is available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, and all other music platforms, or you can click below to listen. As you listen, scroll down and read the inspiration behind this dreamy, hope filled melody.

 

What would it feel like to float on a big, white, puffy cloud, soaking in the warm sunshine from above? This is what I wanted the music to sound like for Riding on the Clouds. The rhythmic piano pattern, and various melodies and harmonies on harp, cellos, horns, and flutes are seeking to express what it would feel like to ride on the clouds. Ambient piano sounds, a full string orchestra, and woodwinds provide rich harmonies and substance underneath. As the song fades to an end, a solo trumpet ushers us toward heaven.

This piece is one to just sit back and take in. The title and theme Scripture verses speak for themselves, and are filled with hope and wonder (see below). With this being released in December, I am reminded how each song and its inspiration are for “all the people” to encourage us in our life and faith journey. One of the most popular Christmas passages, Luke Chapter 2, says in verses 10 and 11, “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

How does “Riding the Clouds” inspire you? 

“Glory and strength to Christ, who loves us, who blood-washed our sins from our lives, Who made us a Kingdom, Priests for his Father, forever—and yes, he’s on his way! Riding the clouds, he’ll be seen by every eye…” — Revelation 1:6-7 (MSG)

“To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him…” — Revelation 1:6-7 (NIV)

“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven.” — Daniel 7:13 (NIV)

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (NIV)

Imagine Immeasurable

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Today is worldwide release day for Imagine Immeasurable. Listen on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, all music platforms, or click below. As you listen, scroll down and read the inspiration behind this beautiful and welcoming orchestral track offering peace and hope to our lives and stories.

 

When I started composing the music I envisioned a bigger, powerful “immeasurable” theme to represent God and His infinite strength, and a smaller, delicate “imagine” theme to represent me and my dependence on Him. We are responsible for the imagining and He is responsible for the immeasurable. An introduction happened with soft organ, solo English horn, and gentle choir, followed by a beautiful solo oboe melody. My music ideas shifted to an “immeasurable” main theme expressing God’s beauty and majesty, and an “imagine” secondary theme conveying my well intended energy and effort.

This moved my heart to see that God’s immeasurable nature did not require a strong and powerful effort by Him. Instead, I began to consider how His creation of the stars, the universe, the earth, the oceans, the mountains, the flowers, the animals, and human beings, everything, happened with ease, majesty, and beauty. His immeasurable does not require striving or stress for anything. Rather, there is a sense of ease, confidence, assurance, beauty, grace, and love in everything He does. This perspective was a new revelation for me, as I reflected on the inspiration from Ephesians 3:20, which has become more and more special in my life and faith. It moves me to focus on God’s abundance instead of my scarcity, to imagine great possibilities as I delight in Him and seek His desires for me, and to know His power is working in and through me by the Holy Spirit.

The primary “immeasurable” theme which is first heard as an oboe solo is repeated throughout the song, with more instruments joining to increase its breadth and depth. The secondary “imagine” theme answers, bringing some energy with French horn and rhythmic strings to symbolize how we tend to bring our own strength and effort to a situation. The choir harmonies represent heaven in all its grandeur. The “imagine” theme becomes slower the second time it appears, and a majestic cathedral organ leads the melody to represent God’s immeasurable protecting and enveloping our strength, our life, and our story. As the song progresses the “imagine” becomes more like the “immeasurable” to symbolize our gradual growth in becoming more like Jesus by surrendering to God, trusting Him completely, and having more grace and love for all people. The immeasurable theme repeats to the end, slowly working its way from full orchestra to the solo oboe we heard in the beginning, with soft strings and choir harmony underneath, and a final chord by the full orchestra.

How does “Imagine Immeasurable” speak into your life and story today? 

EPHESIANS 3:20 (NIV, NKJV, and MSG versions)

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.