Living, Loving & Learning

Having a husband who was a musician in his early life, music is very near and dear to our family. There are always tunes going on in our home. If the speakers isn’t cranking out the songs, then someone is sure to be humming something. It is just a way of life for us.

At some point, after we started attending church, we went through our collection of music and got rid of a bunch of secular stuff. At that time, we went down to only music that had the “Christian” label. Artists that we frequently listened to included Jars of Clay, Richard Mullins, Third Day, Smalltown Poets, Nicole Nordeman, Carolyn Arends, Delirious, and hymn compilation discs.

Overtime, we started to dabble back into “secular” music. Because we enjoy a variety of genres, folk, classics, jazz, Spanish/Mexican/Latino, and pop exist in our collection.

Overtime, I have come to realize that even most of our completely secular music has a spiritual level to it. From Mundy to Patty Griffin, everything we listen to has meaning to it. It is not senseless chatter put to a beat. There are applicable life lessons found in the lyrics of the music.

This brings me to my point about music… and really is brings me to my point about God. We cannot put Him and His ideas into a box. There are artists with the Christian label who are not good role models due to existing sin in their lives. Likewise, we must accept that there are people outside the “Christian” label who are virtuous role models. This is because we are all human and no one human will have all the answers no matter which religion they follow.

I am beginning to see that beyond religious dividers, there really are honest people searching for Truth. I am beginning to find good in all types of people… because God made all people. God has many ways of showing us what is important, even secular music.

Maybe we should focus less on what we cannot control - the personal lives of others - and focus more on something which we all have in common - our world. If we reach out to help another and show others how the world can benefit from our working together, perhaps we will ultimately more effective for God than if we work on condemning those around us.

Maybe tree-hugging isn’t so contrary to Christian principles like love they neightbor - allowing trees to exist helps one and all breathe clean air…

Maybe being concerned about the state of the planet is not “Earth Worship” .. but is instead a form of respecting the Creator…

Maybe helping a secular homeless/abuse shelter is more effective than a tithe to a religious organization that has high liability/legal fees due to abuse within the organization… and maybe that shelter accomplishes God’s Will more effectively than any religious organization ever could.

I’m rambling… you got my thoughts for the afternoon. Trying to figure out why we can’t just all get along.