Open Book

Open Book

I’m the kind of person who says exactly what’s on her mind, for better or worse. Even when I manage to keep quiet, my face has a way of betraying me! Countless times I’ve walked away from conversations with a pang of regret, wondering if I’d said too much. But over time, I’ve learned that this openness – this vulnerability – isn’t something to be ashamed of. It’s part of who I am.

Open Book is about living with our hearts on our sleeves, embracing honesty even when it leaves us feeling exposed. It’s tempting to think that keeping my thoughts to myself would protect me, that the walls I built would keep out the discomfort of being fully seen. But those walls can become their own kind of prison, isolating us in our own defenses. In guarding ourselves so fiercely, we often lose the very connection we were trying to protect.

The truth is, we can’t hide from God anyway – he’s all around us, seeing us completely and loving us still. There’s a grace in being known this deeply, especially by God, who sees us as we are – quirks, insecurities, and all. When we dare to be fully seen, we discover a love that doesn’t flinch, a presence that doesn’t pull away. 

So while vulnerability can be uncomfortable, it’s also a gift. It’s the doorway to connection, freedom, and the deep assurance that we are loved and held—not in spite of who we are but because of it. 

I wrote Open Book during an online day retreat with United Adoration, an incredible community of creatives dedicated to encouraging and developing artists in their craft. At these events, we bring our songs and our hearts to the table, where the community listens, gives feedback, and offers suggestions. It’s this openhanded, generous approach – where iron sharpens iron – that has shaped my growth as a songwriter over the last four or five years.

United Adoration is all about worship and creativity, helping artists develop their voices in a way that’s both collaborative and deeply rooted in faith. They foster a safe, welcoming space where we can be open, refine our work, and learn from one another. This collaborative environment has been invaluable to me, reminding me that creativity thrives when we’re willing to share our ideas and let others speak into them.

That spirit of vulnerability and connection is what this song is all about – living with our hearts on our sleeves and embracing the beauty of being fully seen and fully loved.

Open Book

Once again I let my thoughts
ome tumbling out
Of my mouth and fall to the ground
That I wish would now swallow me up
For I’ve said far too much
And I see no way out

With my heart upon my sleeve
You see what you get
And you get what you see
Now my life’s an open book
But sometimes it hurts to have everybody look

For too long I tried to keep
My cards close to my chest
Not let anyone inside my head
But the fortress I’d built in my mind
Where I’d run and would hide
Was a prison itself

You know my thoughts completely
Every word before I speak  
Nothing’s hidden yet you love me
Even though I am weak        
Before me and behind me 
You are always by my side   
And even when I’m lonely
Oh even when I’m lonely
I know that I am always on your mind   

© Olwen Ringrose 2024

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