Contemporary music & spirituality

Since I was a kid I have loved listening to music. When I was old enough to drive a tractor on the farm I listened to the AM radio of the day – this was the late 70’s and early 80’s. The selection was pretty slim – particularly as the sun went down. Disco and some New Wave, along with Casey’s Top 40 and – as the sun set - KC Royals baseball. But I could listen to the music and focus on the words, the meaning, the feeling, as I planted six rows at a time on the John Deere 3020.

In high school I listened to all kinds of music – Stevie Ray Vaughan, David Bowie, various sorts of New Wave, Blondie, Pat Benatar and so on. And whatever movie sound track was popular at the time (Fast Times, Footloose).

Then college and marriage – and I got to experience my wife’s varied musical tastes (or lack of taste as I like to tease her). Somewhere along the way I discovered Jazz – Dave Brubeck, Steely Dan (is that Jazz?), David Sanborn, The Rippingtons, Oregon, The Yellowjackets, Freddie Hubbard and John Coltrane. A lot of it I heard via public radio.

Lately – the past few years – I have been attracted to various Christian contemporary artists (the ‘Wow’ collections are great), as well as U2 and Peter Gabriel. U2 are a great band and their music is so uplifting, saddening, hopeful, and therapeutic. Right now I’m viewing a Peter Gabriel DVD – a concert from 1994 – on the flight to Florida. Some of the songs are very touching – sometimes too much so (yes, I’m well aware of the liberal stances of Peter Gabriel and Paula Cole):

Blood of Eden: ‘I caught sight of my reflection; I caught it in the window. I saw the darkness in my heart. I saw the signs of my undoing – they had been there from the start, And the darkness still has work to do – the knotted cord's untying. The heated and the holy, they are sitting there on high – so secure, and everything they're buying. In the blood of Eden, lie the women and the man, with the man in the women, and the woman in the man, In the blood of Eden, lie the woman and the man, they wanted the union. Oh, the union of the woman, the woman and the man.’

And sometimes they are really invigorating – like this one, one of my favorites:

Shaking the tree: ‘Waiting your time, dreaming of a better life. Waiting your time, you’re more than just a wife. You don’t want to do what your mother has done. She has done, this is your life, this new life has come. It’s your day, woman’s day, it’s your day, woman’s day. Turning the tide, you are on the incoming wave. Turning the tide, you know you are nobody’s slave. Find your sisters and brothers who can hear all the truth in what you say – they can support you when you’re on your way. It’s your day, woman’s day. It’s your day, woman’s day. Changing your ways, changing those surrounding you. Changing your ways, more than any man can do. Open your heart, show him the anger and pain so you heal. Maybe he’s looking for his womanly side! Let him feel. You had to be so strong! You did nothing wrong, nothing wrong at all. We’re going to break it down. We’re going to shake it down, shake it all around.’

Or – ‘You could have a steam train if you’d just lay down your tacks.’ ‘I stood in this unsheltered place, until I could see the face behind the face. In this house of make-believe; divided in two like Adam and Eve. Breaking it up, shaking it up, making it up in our secret world.’ Or the entire lyrics to ‘Don’t Give Up’!. Perhaps this favorite: ‘Accepting all I’ve done and said, I want to stand and stare again ‘till there’s nothing left – all that remains, is there in your eyes. Whatever comes and goes, I will hear your silent call. And I will touch this tender wall till I know I’m home again.’

So I’m a big advocate of contemporary music’s spiritual nature. Now, not all contemporary music is spiritual or healthy for one’s spiritual journey. But for me, there are some artists whose lyrics really spark my imagination, give me something to meditate on, help me appreciate God’s creation and challenges my narrow-minded views. Is that bad? I don’t think so – remember, test all and keep what is good. Open mind, open heart.