March 16, 2011
I did it! I went to Rydell, and now I want to learn even more! Earl Scruggs, The Kruger Brothers, and Abigail Washburn; just to name a few. The sound is so great, and there are so many different types of them. But the only downside is that they are pretty darn expensive. I just need a patron of the arts, I can pay them back in sweet, melodic tunes. Today was an all around good day a visit from an old friend, lots of walking, banjo talking, and braces in the works. And RUF was great tonight, God does so much in one day and this is just my little ole life.
Song: Postcards from Hell
Okie doke, so the title of the song might throw you off a little bit, considering that I'm all about Jesus, but I have to say that lyrically it's great. The chorus is just a repetition of "I've got a soul that I won't sell." The song is about a guy who is apparently really good at singing his blues, so much so he "sings like a choir girl" and he "uses the breeze as a telephone wire."This guy is so good that he uses the wind to sing to you! The man who the song is about can take you anywhere with his music, an alley, on a freight train, or to a church. But never sells out.
Two things about this song that I want to point out. One, is my interpretation of the verses. This guy can take you places and connect with you on incredible levels. He can sound as sweet as a choir girl or as fierce as to burn down a house. Isn't this what music is supposed to do? Move us? Take us to places that we would otherwise not have been able to journey (maybe that's why the band got its name). And my next question will lead me to point numero dos. Isn't that what a lot of popular music lacks? I am not begrudging anyone their musical preferences, but we all have to admit that there are different levels of success and of talent. Some view success on money and how recognizable something is, others see it as being completely happy. Talent is also subjective...and here I need to ask forgiveness for being mean to the person I was about to put in parentheses. But really, I think that once you put a price on something, it automatically cheapens it and it's not really yours anymore.
Let's take Bob (my hypothetical trendy musician guy), he loves playing the spoons. He's got a pretty solid following of people and he plays because he loves it. Simply put, it makes him happy. Bob doesn't make a lot of money playing the spoons, but he kind of enjoys smaller venues, especially the fact that he can play on his terms. Well, Bob gets heard by major music executives looking for cutlery players and sky rockets to the top of the charts, for the low low price of giving up all creative rights. Bob has a choice, he can keep playing the music he wants to play or he can play what the executives and "public" want. He also has to use hokey tactics and crazy antics to get people to listen, somewhere along the way he loses the joy for the spoons, and wonders why it didn't feel the same. OR he could keep playing cause he loves it and be broke. I am definitely not saying that playing music for money is bad, I guess it's about moderation. Life's defined by unseen motivations, maybe unseen even to the person making choices. Why do I do what I do? Do I repost cards from Hell?
Psalm Seis
I've said this a bunch today, to various people, David is super complainy. I am kind of getting to the point where I could be classified as mildly annoyed, and it's only the sixth Psalm! David is constantly asking to be paid attention to, for his enemies to be thwarted, for his kingdom to prosper, blah blah blah. Grow up and be a man, man! This was how I felt the majority of the day, especially after I read this last one. But then, I thought about it a little more (or could feel God softening my heart a little more) and started to not only sympathize for David, but also start to relate a little bit.
How much are my prayers to God really just "why me's" or "it's not fair that"? Am I really talking to Him, or am I just laundry listing all the things that are wrong, how many hardships I go through, how my life is so much less than someone who has x,y, and z? To be entirely honest, they aren't praises, they aren't even requests. Hello gift horse, I can't see you, I happen to be looking at a lot of teeth at the moment. Fortunately for me life does a good job at living out life isn't fair. Why fortunately? Cause if it was, I'd be a goner. He's a just God, but He is also graceful and merciful. And in the end of all the Psalms so far, He's always come through victorious. That's what He does, is win, no matter what.
I think what a lot of this is evidence for why we need a savior. I heard something today in RUF that hit home. We can waiver with our faith and still be 100% A O.K. Why? Weak faith in a strong Savior, saves you. The fact that David is even saying this to God is proof enough that even though David doesn't "see" God working, that he has small enough faith in a more than enough God (Luke 17: 6) to complain to Him about it.
This was kind of tangenty, but His love and affection never waiver. We may try to find other solutions, try and increase our faith, or just be upset with Him. God won't change the way He feels about us, and that is still a love worth dying for. So, thank you, God, for being as great as You are and making life not fair.
Postcards from Hell
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