Happy Interdependence Day!
Sunday, July 6, 2025
Rev. Diana Johnson, IM, RScM, with Sherri Dotter, RScP, and Chris Johnson, RScP
Video Chapter Index
| 0:00 | Taizé | Clicking on a chapter link will play the segment in a new YouTube tab. Your link to this page will remain open in this tab, but the video will play in the new window. Clicking on the Play arrow in the video screen above will play both Taizé and the Conscious Conversation on this page. To make the picture bigger, you may click the full screen icon in the lower right corner:  To cast the video to your Smart TV, click the Play on TV button:  . Also, we now have Closed Captioning available! To access Closed Captions, start the video and click on the CC icon next to the gear in the lower right of the video screen:  |
| 20:47 | Guided Meditation | |
| 47:02 | Conscious Conversation |
Taizé
Call to Awareness – 3 Bells
Sherri – Opening Prayer
Rev. Diana – Good morning and welcome. If you’re new with us here this morning, my name is Rev. Diana Johnson, and I am the Pastor and Spiritual Director here at Mystical Heart Spiritual Center. We are an Independent Interfaith Community that teaches Universal Principles and Practical Spirituality. I pray that as you listen, you will hear something that leads you to the Guidance and Wisdom of your own Mystic Heart. We move into deeper Connection and higher Vibration, joining our voices in musical prayer.
Rev. Diana & Chris – Musical Prayer
- Welcome Home to Your Mystic Heart, written by Diana & Chris Johnson
- We Are One, written by Linda Webb-Khakaba
Rev. Diana – We ground ourselves more deeply in unity, taking a few deep breaths… knowing that the breath connects us to one another, and to all that is…Allow all that has come before this moment to drop away, and center your awareness in this place and time. Here and now, we enter fully into the Divine Presence…
Now take a moment to expand your awareness to those around you… each one a spark of Light in the Global Web of Consciousness… spiraling out to include family and friends… neighbors… all in our city… our county… our state… the world. Connected by Spirit, we celebrate our Oneness with all of humanity… with all of creation… We see all the animals… plants… soil… water… air… planets, stars, and galaxies… Each one a glittering jewel in Indra’s Net… reflecting each and every other gem… shining with the same Divine Light that we are… One Spirit… One Life, expressing in infinite variety…
Grounded in the Truth of Who and Whose we are and knowing that our consciousness of Unity uplifts the planet and her inhabitants, we are helping to move human evolution into its next yet-to-be.
Our theme for this month is Interdependence, and with the recent celebration of our nation’s independence from Great Britain, we bring our awareness to the true meaning of that word…independence. What does it mean to be truly independent in our lives?
We tend to view the words independence and freedom as synonyms… but are they? Independence has been defined as independence as freedom from the control, influence, support, aid, or the like, of others. Can we really be free to thrive without the support or aid of others? Or might it be that it is precisely the support and aid of others that allows us the freedom to express our unique gifts in the world?
And who are these others on whom we rely? Is it just other people, or might it be more than that? Consider the trees and other plants that convert the carbon dioxide that we exhale into oxygen that we can breathe… and in the process create food we can eat. Contemplate the water cycle, acting nonstop to circulate fresh water we can drink. Reflect on the animals, who provide nourishment for some of us, and companionship for many. And Mother Earth HerSelf, who provides a home for us all…
In her book, the Soul of Money, Lynne Twist tells of her work with the Hunger Project, and the birth of the Pachamama Alliance. Her team was invited to Ecuador by the Achuar, an Indigenous tribe of the Amazon Rainforest. In a dream, the Achuar were called to invite
12 people with global voice, with open hearts, people who know the rainforest is critical to the future of life, people who know that Indigenous people have wisdom that’s vital for sustainability of the human family, people who would respect the ways of the shaman.
When they arrived, this was what the Achuar told them:
If you’ve come to help us, even though we invited you here, don’t waste your time. But if you know your liberation is bound up with ours, then let’s work together.[1]
Our liberation is bound up with theirs, and with the salvation of all the Earth and her inhabitants. That is what Unity means… that is the true meaning of Oneness. What we do to each other, to the earth, to any individualized expression of Spirit, we do to ourselves…
The Achuar people may be described as a primitive culture, but as Nature Mystic Thomas Berry reminds us:
At present there is a devastating relationship between the human community and the Earth community. That humans, with all their intelligence, should be so destructive is something of an anomaly. Yet the disruption that is being effected throughout the planet is occurring through human agency. A remedy needs to be found.
The destruction is the result of scientific technologies whereby the resources of Earth are being exploited for human benefit without regard for the consequences on the life systems of the planet. A mystique of use as our primary relationship with the planet has been developed and is being deployed with ruthlessness beyond understanding.
This represents a great contrast with the earliest phase of human development when Earth and the solar system, with its planets and the stars beyond, were considered to be manifestations of sacred, even divine powers. In this period the human project was validated by ritual celebration of those great moments of transition in the ever-renewing cycle when the numinous world was experienced as especially present to the human community.
The entire universe was experienced as a cosmic liturgy. There was the daily sequence when at dawn and at sunset the numinous presence was more available to human perception. Then there was the yearly cycle. The annual cycle of death and rebirth occurred as the sun declined to its nadir at the winter solstice and then was reborn in the springtime when a renewal of life came forth with dramatic manifestations. This was an ever-renewing seasonal sequence. What was born, died. What died was born again. If there was a never-ending tendency toward death, there was also the inevitable life-renewal…
What is proposed here as a necessary development is to once again establish an awareness of the unity of human affairs with the functioning of the universe and Earth. This unity finds expression in the threefold cosmological cycles: daily, seasonal, and planetary. There is the daily cycle that passes from sunrise to sunset, the dawn and dusk bringing the community out of the mystical period of awakening consciousness when the dreams of the preceding night are narrated for the guidance that they might offer to the community. Then there is birth, maturity, and death in the seasonal cycle of each living form, reflected in the winter solstice, the springtime renewal, the summertime fullness, the autumnal harvest. Finally there is the planetary cycle of Earth’s orbit around the sun. While no society had its full expression of these various moments of grace in which the human communed with the cosmos, they each had their intimacy with the larger community of life. Now we are called to our Second Exodus, our return to the universe as vibrant cosmic liturgy.[2]
Chris – Guided Meditation
Oneness with Spirit and with all of Creation is our native state… we can never be separate from God… the Creator is omnipresent – fully present everywhere, at all times… This is what the psalmist meant by “If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there…”[3]
There is no spot where God is not… but often that is not our human experience… we tend to judge by appearances…[4] we assume that our senses give us an accurate depiction of Ultimate Reality… it may look like we are disconnected from others… we may feel separate from Spirit… but that is maya… the illusion of our misperception…
What we call our mind is really our use of Universal Intelligence… Divine Mind… We may entertain the notion that we are separate… from Spirit… from others… and our creative imagination makes it feel true… but as soon as we remember… the moment we contemplate our Unity with everything… the illusion evaporates…
The question is not, where did God go?… but where did I go?… what can I do to maintain my awareness of Divine Presence?… Let us make reconnection part of our spiritual practice… our liturgy… our worship… holding all of Creation as sacred… everyone as Holy… and ourselves as an integral part of that interconnected Wholeness…
As we share our three minutes of Silent Communion this morning, I invite you to share this prayer… Great Spirit, let me not be fooled by appearances… remind me constantly of your Presence… your Love… your spirit within everyone I meet… May I see the Earth and all of her children… the rocks… waters… trees… animals… as your handiwork… as displays of Divine Love… as proof that you are with me always… and in this time of contemplation, reveal to me how I can most powerfully reconnect when I forget…
Silence – 3:00
Divine Creator, thank you for this time of blessed communion with you and with this Beloved Community… thank you for your Grace that allows me to feel your Presence deep within my soul… and to see your face in everyone I meet… thank you for creating us in such a way that we need one another to fulfil our lives… and yours…
The poet John Donne wrote, “No man is an island, entire of itself…” each of us is a part of something much greater… a family… a community… a planet… a universe… You and I and all of Creation make up the manifest Body of God… every creature is essential to the full expression of Spirit…
Returning now to Rev. Diana’s Taizé meditation, we deeply feel our connection with one another… with Spirit… and with all that is… knowing that now… tomorrow… and every day, we get to celebrate a Happy Interdependence Day…
Rev. Diana – Another term for interdependence is interbeing – my beingness is determined by how I show up for you. By myself, I have no beingness – or if I do, it has no context for meaning. We need one another to find our life’s meaning, purpose, and significance. Like it or not, we are interdependent.
Living as One with each other and with all of Creation takes focus and attention. It requires that we maintain awareness of our tendency to slip into our habitual thought forms… rooted in the dream of separation… It compels us to regular spiritual practice: to meditation, where we experience our Oneness with Spirit and Her Creation; to prayer, where we invite Spirit to remind us when we drift out of the Story of Unity; and to Mindful Action in the World.
As we come to accept our inseparability from one another, and from our planet and its resources…as we come to know our Oneness with all of creation, we begin to make different choices. More and more often, before taking action, we consider the effects of our actions on others…not just our families and friends, our neighbors and acquaintances, but also on other people, elsewhere in the world…people we may never meet. What affect do my choices have on the animals…on the forests…on the oceans…on the environment…on future generations? When each of us is walking through life, consciously choosing to do no harm, we will have created peace on earth.
Musical Meditation – May Peace Prevail on Earth, by James Twyman
Rev. Diana – The time is now, the moment’s clear…the last shall be the first.
For each one stands on sacred ground, may peace prevail on earth.
So long in dreams we have foreseen the path for which we thirst.
But now we claim what was our goal, may peace prevail on earth.
A world of love we all claim, and each one of us will light that flame.
May peace prevail on earth, now and always prevail on earth.
In each one of us, prevail on earth, may peace prevail on earth.
Peace must begin within the heart and mind of every human.
Lao Tzu reminds us that:
If there is to be peace in the world, there must be peace in the nations.
If there is to be peace in the nations, there must be peace in the cities.
If there is to be peace in the cities, there must be peace between neighbors.
If there is to be peace between neighbors, there must be peace in the home.
If there is to be peace in the home, there must be peace in the heart.
Only when I am at peace within my own heart can I show up as a peaceful presence in the world.
Rev. Diana – I offer, as our closing prayer and affirmation this morning, The Declaration of Interdependence written by the David Suzuki Foundation:
This we know
We are the earth, through the plants and animals that nourish us.
We are the rains and the oceans that flow through our veins.
We are the breath of the forests of the land, and the plants of the sea.
We are human animals, related to all other life as descendants of the firstborn cell.
We share with these kin a common history, written in our genes.
We share a common present, filled with uncertainty.
And we share a common future, as yet untold.
We humans are but one of thirty million species weaving the thin layer of life enveloping the world.
The stability of communities of living things depends upon this diversity.
Linked in that web, we are interconnected — using, cleansing, sharing, and replenishing the fundamental elements of life.
Our home, planet Earth, is finite; all life shares its resources and the energy from the sun, and therefore has limits to growth.
For the first time, we have touched those limits.
When we compromise the air, the water, the soil, and the variety of life, we steal from the endless future to serve the fleeting present.
This we believe
Humans have become so numerous and our tools so powerful that we have driven fellow creatures to extinction, dammed the great rivers, torn down ancient forests, poisoned the earth, rain and wind, and ripped holes in the sky.
Our science has brought pain as well as joy; our comfort is paid for by the suffering of millions.
We are learning from our mistakes, we are mourning our vanished kin, and we now build a new politics of hope.
We respect and uphold the absolute need for clean air, water, and soil.
We see that economic activities that benefit the few while shrinking the inheritance of many are wrong.
And since environmental degradation erodes biological capital forever, full ecological and social cost must enter all equations of development.
We are one brief generation in the long march of time; the future is not ours to erase.
So where knowledge is limited, we will remember all those who will walk after us, and err on the side of caution.
This we resolve
All this that we know and believe must now become the foundation of the way we live.
At this turning point in our relationship with Earth, we work for an evolution: from dominance to partnership; from fragmentation to connection; from insecurity to interdependence.[5]
I give thanks for the blessed earth and all she offers us. I give thanks for each one here, and for our time together in celebration of our Interdependence. I trust and know that our time together has set a Powerful Healing in motion…has contributed to the evolution of a peaceful, healthy world where each and all of us thrive.
And so, at peace within myself, I release this prayer, knowing that it has done its Word…a prayer spoken and deeply felt is a prayer answered. And so it is…Amen…A’ho!
Returning our awareness to this moment, to this place, we open our eyes, our hearts, and our minds. Look around at who is sharing in celebration this morning…wish each one a Happy Interdependence Day!
Love Offering – At this time we offer the opportunity for you to share of your financial good in support of the work we do should you choose to do so. If you’re joining us online, you can find a Donate Button or our mailing address, if you prefer to write a check, at mysticheart.org. And we thank you in advance for your gifts.
Offertory Video
Interdependence and Impermanence – Buddhism
Rev. Diana – Blessing for the Offering
Rev. Diana & Chris – Taizé Closing Song
- A Soul’s Blessing
Conscious Conversation
Sherri – Opening Prayer
Rev. Diana – Good morning…and welcome, or welcome back…and welcome to those joining online. If you’re new with us here this morning… my name is Rev. Diana Johnson, and I am the Pastor and Spiritual Director for Mystic Heart Spiritual Center. We are an Independent Interfaith Community that teaches Universal Principles and Practical Spirituality. We open our doors in welcome, trusting that you will be led to the Guidance and Wisdom of your own Mystic Heart.
Rev. Diana & Chris – Opening Music
- Welcome to the Mystic Heart, written by Diana & Chris Johnson
- One Big Family, written by Robin Hackett & Gary Lynn Floyd
- One People Chorus, written by Karl Anthony
Let’s keep that Powerful Energy going and growing as we join in the Sacred Practice of envisioning a Love-Soaked World.
We enter our Vision this morning, finding ourselves living in a world where all humans are living from their deepest Wisdom, their most generous and Loving nature…thoughtful of the impact their thoughts, words, and actions have on one another, on the community, and on the planet…
This is a world without greed…where there is abundance in having enough…where all needs are met gracefully and easily…where nutritious food, clean water, and pure, sweet air are readily available to all, no matter where you live or which family you’re born into…
…where warm, comfortable, and affordable housing is a given…where all beings feel a sense of safety, belonging, and contribution…where mental/physical health, education, and healthy relationships are ensured by social systems grounded in Integrity, honesty, and Wholeness…
Feel and know with me now, a world where all beings work and play at what feeds their soul and are well compensated for their Service…all are valued and respected for their inherent Goodness. Authenticity and vulnerability are not only welcomed, but celebrated. The Peace we have cultivated within ourselves shows up as a world free of violence, hatred, or indifference. The Love that we are here to share is given freely to whomever our hearts are called to. We have moved beyond all lines of separation, and live as one human family, caring for one beautiful planet and all that she contains and sustains.
By the Power of our collective intention, powerful imagining, and inspired action, transformation is happening now…we are creating a world that works for all beings. We are not caught up in appearances…like the prophet of old, we are doing a Good Work and cannot come down…will not come down. It is through our hands, feet, hearts, and voices that positive change is happening as we align our actions with our Vision, living these changes in our own lives, with our families, friends, and neighbors.
This Community stands as an open and welcoming place for all who seek support, belonging, and a sense of Family…it redefines Church as a place of Self-Discovery, Authenticity, Kindness, Radical Inclusion, and Love, as we are Guided to the Truth that lies within every heart.
By the Creative Power of our deep Knowing, clear Vision, and inspired Action, this prayer is acted upon here and now. A prayer spoken and deeply felt is a prayer answered. In full acceptance and expectation of its Graceful unfolding, and with the deepest humility and soul-felt gratitude, we release our Word to the One Who Gets It Done…And so it is!…Amen!
Bringing awareness back to the body, to the room, to this beautiful life, and to the amazing beings who share this space with us this morning…look around to say good morning to your Spiritual Family. Take a moment to really see one another.
Our theme this month is Interconnection, and the topic of Conversation this morning has been Happy Interdependence Day. If you were here for Taizé this morning, you’ll know that we debunked the fiction that we are completely independent beings. We are not separate – we are part of an Integrated Wholeness that includes all of Creation. We cannot thrive without the support of Mother Earth and all her inhabitants, and they cannot thrive without our conscious contribution to Life. Our liberation, our individual wellbeing is “bound up” with the wholeness of all beings.
We talked about how so-called “primitive” societies held the natural world as sacred, as a manifestation of the Divine. How early humans celebrated their oneness with Nature, Spirit, and all of Life with ritual ceremonies at the solstices, equinoxes, at dawn and at dusk. And how many humans now see the Earth as something separate from which we can extract resources at will.
We explored the concept of interbeing, the idea that our life only has true meaning within a context of relationship – with one another, with the planet, and with all her inhabitants. And we read the David Suzuki Foundation’s Declaration of Interdependence, a call to build a new way of life on the foundation of our essential Oneness with all of Creation.
So, what do you think?
How are Independence and Interdependence related?
(We depend on others for our basic needs – once those needs are met, we are free to express ourselves more fully. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs)
How do our behaviors affect others? the Earth? How far-reaching are the effects we create?
(We may never know. The ripples go out, creating responses or reactions in others.)
What then is our responsibility to the other beings we share this planet with?
(“At the very least, do no harm.”[6] Yeshua: “as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.”[7])
When the Achuar spokesperson said, “If you’ve come to help us, even though we invited you here, don’t waste your time,” what did he mean?
(Don’t help us out of charity, guilt, or because you think we can’t do it without you. We are not separate from you – helping us is helping the whole world.)
In his book, The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know Is Possible, Charles Eisenstein describes the principles of Interbeing:
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That my being partakes of your being and that of all beings. This goes beyond interdependency—our very existence is relational. That, therefore, what we do to another, we do to ourselves.
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That each of us has a unique and necessary gift to give the world. That the purpose of life is to express our gifts.
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That every act is significant and has an effect on the cosmos.
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That we are fundamentally unseparate from each other, from all beings, and from the universe. That every person we encounter and every experience we have mirrors something in ourselves.
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That humanity is meant to join fully the tribe of all life on Earth, offering our uniquely human gifts toward the well-being and development of the whole.
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That purpose, consciousness, and intelligence are innate properties of matter and the universe.[8]
Are we really that connected? What might living the principle of interbeing require of us?
(More mindful interactions with people, plants, animals, soil, water; awareness that everything we say, think, feel, and do creates a chain reaction of cause and effect – who knows where it ends?)
Thomas Berry talked about the rituals of primitive peoples that connected them with their environment. What kinds of ceremonies do you take part in to connect?
(Solstice celebrations, Full and New Moon Circles, baby showers, funerals, Bar & Bat Mitzvahs, Quinceañeras, all celebrate cycles of life; gardening connects us to the Earth & Life.)
How do these rituals affect the way we interact with people and Nature?
(They are a form of prayer or meditation that reminds us of our connection to all that is.)
The Declaration of Interdependence drafted by the David Suzuki Foundation has three headings: This we know, This we believe, and This we Resolve. Why do you think they used these phrases to organize this document?
(We should start with what we know to be true, let that inform what we believe to be true, and then resolve to act from what we know and believe.)
So, is it really possible to stay that mindful in all of our interactions? How do we do that?
(Spiritual practices – Prayer, Meditation, Self-Reflection, Sacred Service, Circulation, Sacred Study, and Celebration – the Seven Pillars of a Spiritual Life.)
Closing Prayer
Please join me in this knowing: that there is only One Thing going on here, and that is the action of the Divine Source pouring ItSelf out into all of Creation. Every thing, every person, every plant, every rock, every animal is an expression of Spirit. Every lake, stream, river, pond, or ditch is filled with Holy Water. All of it Sacred, all of it interconnected.
We ourselves are part of that Oneness, that intricate web of consciousness expressing in form. As we identify with our Divine Nature, with the Spirit within us, we see that same Essence in each and every other being. With the Gift of Spiritual Sight, we see God in every face, in every situation, in all of Creation.
This prayer establishes us firmly in a consciousness of Unity with all Life, maintaining that awareness throughout each day. May we be ever mindful that what we do to other people, to the Earth, and to any of her inhabitants, we do to ourSelves. May we feel the pain when a species succumbs to extinction, and may we feel the joy when a farmer’s soil is regenerated by sustainable practices. May we evolve into better and better co-creation partners for one another and for our planet. May we fully honor this Divine Gift of Life that Spirit has entrusted us with.
I give thanks for the Earth, and for the many ways She sustains us. I give thanks for this morning’s Celebration and the many ways it informs and uplifts us. I give thanks for the presence of each one here…for the dedication that each one brings to this Community, and to their own Spiritual Path. I give thanks for the feast that follows our Conversation, and for the many hands that it took to bring it to our table.
With profound gratitude, I release this prayer, knowing that a prayer spoken and deeply felt is a prayer answered. And so I let go, and let God do Its thing. And so it is…Amen…A’ho!
Rev. Diana – Love Offering
I invite you to join in the celebration of the work we are doing in the world by sharing of your financial Good. If you are at home, you can go to mysticheart.org to use our Donate Button or to find our mailing address.
Offertory Video: Sing the Water Song
https://youtu.be/KC2FHciQ0sU?list=RDKC2FHciQ0sU
Sherri – Blessing for the offering
Sherri – Invitations
- The Mystic Heart Book Club meets every Tuesday from 3-5 We are reading A Politics of Love by Marianne Williamson.
- A Return to Love Book Study returns this Wednesday from 11am-1pm. Please have a copy of the book in some form if you plan to attend.
- Fast Track to Wellness returns this Thursday from noon – 2pm. It will be a Community Cooking Day. Contact Rev. Diana if you are new to the group and plan to attend.
- Metaphysical Bible will return next week on July 17th. We are currently reading The Gospel of Mary Magdalene.
- Dive and Survive: The Second Spoke on the Wheel Please join April Jimenez, this coming Saturday, July 12th from 11am to 1:00pm.There are more details in the June Bulletin. Contact April for more information. Suggested Donation: $20 Snacks will be provided.
- It’s time to start clearing out those closets and cupboards, and cleaning out garages and sheds in search of no longer needed, gently used items. Mystic Heart will be holding its Summer Parking Lot Sale on Friday and Saturday, July 18th and 19th from 7:30am – 2:00 pm. You can bring clean items, in good repair, beginning Sunday, July 6th after the Sunday Gathering. Please let Rev. Diana know if you can help in any capacity.
Looking Ahead…save the date:
- New Clairvaux is holding the 19th Annual Blessing of the Grapes in Vina, July 26th, 2025. Join Mystic OAKS as we take part in this beautiful celebration. There is no cost to attend the event. There are more details in the June Bulletin. Contact Chris Netto or Rev. Diana to sign up.
- Uniquely You: A Jewely-Making Workshop with Kimberly McIntosh. Saturday, August 2nd, 10:30am-2:30pm. Bring a favorite stone, gemstone, or pendant…bring a couple…and join Kimberly in making a custom necklace and pair of earrings. Mid-way through, Rev. Diana will be providing a healthy and delicious lunch. All other materials will be provided. Payment of $30 is required in advance so that we have materials and food for everyone. You won’t want to miss this…bring a friend.
There is more information available in the June Bulletin and online at Mystic Heart.org.
Information Cards if new people
Prayer Requests: I am available after service for prayer, in the Practitioner Prayer room or if you like, fill out a prayer card and I will get your request to our Prayer Team for daily prayer.
Rev. Diana & Chris – Closing Song
- Love Be With You, written by Lainey Bernstein, RScP, & Gary Lynn Floyd
Notes:
[1] Lynne Twist, The Soul of Money
[2] Thomas Berry, The Christian Future and the Fate of Earth, 2009
[3] Psalm 139:8
[4] John 7:24
[5] https://davidsuzuki.org/about/declaration-of-interdependence/
[6] Hippocratic Oath
[7] Matthew 25:34-45
[8] Charles Eisenstein, The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know Is Possible
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Permission is granted to duplicate for non-commercial educational use only.
All rights to music performed remain with the copyright owners.
Diana Johnson’s music is © by Barefoot Angel Publishing, ASCAP.
Chris Johnson’s music is © by SeaJay Music & Publishing, ASCAP.