Celebrated Lyricist Pens Hymn During Drive-Through Wait

Bloomington, Minnesota -- In less time than it took him to order a Whopper with fries, Marty Haugen wrote the lyrics and melody yesterday for a new hymn he says is his best yet.

"'Gather Us In' has always been my personal favorite, but my newest hymn,'We are the Apples of Your Eye' really speaks from my heart, and the crazy thing is the words came to me while I was waiting in line at Burger King," Haugen said.

"They say fasting heightens spiritual awareness and it had been several hours since I had eaten anything. That's the only explanation I can think of for this new song," he said.

In fact, he got so into the writing process, a woman in the car behind him had to beep her horn to prompt Haugen to move to the second window and pick up his order. "I could tell she was getting impatient with me, and for a split second I wanted to give her the finger. But then the melody and lyrics of my new hymn just kind of washed over me, saying, "Marty, God loves you. God loves her. Just get your burger and give thanks."

Haugen's new hymn features all those subjects his fans have grown to love over the years: banquets, acceptance, stars, flowers and, of course, the moon. He even managed to work in a couple of lines about his new puppy, Sparky. "This song is about me, you, God and creation. It reminds us that God really regards his entire creation, and especially us, with wonder."

[Credits: Maureen Martin is the pen name of a Catholic satirist who encourages readers not to look to the Enquirer for actual facts and information. You can visit her blog at: catholicnews.org. This piece was originally published on June 3, 2005 HERE, and subsequently in Crisis magazine (January 2006), p. 60. The photograph, right, is of Marty Haugen.]