Last weeks’ blog post, “The Power of Music”, struck a chord with a large number of you. Thanks for reaching out and sharing your thoughts with me. After hearing/reading your experiences with the power of music, it occurred to me that I should go “deeper” and share several of my personal experiences. So, off we go…
Currently, the song on “repeat” in my head is – “Goodness of God” performed by Bethel Music. It recently took the spot away from “Almost Home” by Mercy Me – a song I shared with you in a blog two weeks ago. Prior to that it was “Burn the Ships” by for King & Country; which I also wrote about on November 14, 2019
Do you detect a pattern here? I certainly do! These songs are praise and worship music. Songs from which I pull strength when I am weak. Songs which provide a clearer vision of the path I should take while providing me a greater understanding of my relationship with God. They are songs of hope and faith – items we all can use a bit more of right now.
Oh, man, how those songs affect me. I pray that you have songs like these in your life.
Music has gotten me through some rough times…
When I was fired from my job at Walgreens I was lost and without direction; much like a ship without a rudder. I felt like I had little or no value. I mean, how does one even get fired from Walgreens of all places?
Anyway, I heard the song “Beautiful Things” done by Gungor. Oh how it spoke to me! Still does. Always will.
You should give it a listen. It’s a great song to have in your “back pocket” when self-doubt enters your life.
Lines in the song include: “You make beautiful things” and “You make me new”
Hey! Self-doubter!!
He made you; thus you are beautiful! He made you new; move forward & leave the past behind!
Enough said.
This next one might seem a little odd…”Chandelier” by Sia.
Not really sure why/how I “connect” with this one, but I do. For me, it’s a song about getting through the chaos of life, to survive, to live your own life; break free of the facade you created that others see or your view of who/what “they” want you to be. But, mainly, ya know, about holding on and getting through the chaos of life. Be who you want to be, how you want to be!
I’m just not sure. But the song “works” for me.
I’m a survivor! And so are you!
“Island” by Jeff Brinkman is yet another song which resonates with me. In the song he sings about taking down your white flag and surrendering – in this case, to love & acceptance.
He uses the metaphor of a ship docked safely in a harbor to symbolize wrapping your loved one in your arms…or being wrapped in your loved one’s arms…
There’s a lot packed into this song. I encourage you to give it a listen so that you may discover what message it holds for you.
This brings me to the music I value the most – the music of nature. Nature has always been an escape for me. As a kid, when life “got complicated”, I would head to the nearby woods, sit under a tree and “just be”. I don’t ever recall thinking about anything specific. I more or less just sat there with closed eyes and breathed; listening to the sounds that surrounded me. Although I wore a watch, there was no pre-set “time limit”. I would sit until I felt “calm” or maybe “at peace” and ready to step back into my life.
Yes, many things have changed through the years, but finding my “peace” in nature’s music hasn’t. Granted, that place may have morphed from a wooded forest next to a golf course to sitting on the back patio of my house which overlooks a small grove of trees (usually with coffee), but I leave feeling the same – calm, refreshed and ready for life.
That’s the power of music…
Dan’s View 