A letter from Charlotte Blackburn in Indonesia
May 2012 (2)
Religion is what you do when the sermon is over H. Jackson Browne, Life's Little Instruction Book
I believe that. Many of us try to carry our good hearts and desire into the world after being inspired in church. We all know how long this likely lasts—until something happens that destroys that inspiration or until it just wears off (usually around Sunday evening :-).
Just kidding, but just as a Sunday morning church service inspires us for an undetermined amount of time, the time spent between Sunday and Sunday has an impact on one's concept of religion as well...very often affecting the way we hear the message on Sunday mornings and in the ways we practice what it is we think we hear. In my case, the way that I've spent the time between Sunday and Sunday for most of my life was listening to music. Rock and roll music.
This morning during devotionals (I mean actively enjoying my iPod selections) I realized that there are quite a few songs of various genres that I have always associated with my faith. Later on I would realize that some really cool things happen to me as a result of that.
First on the list is "Love Reign O'er Me" (The Who, Quadrophenia). It's the first go-to song when I need to remember that love comes from above...just like rain.
Only love
Can bring the rain
That makes you yearn to the sky
Only love
Can bring the rain
That falls like tears from on high
Pete Townshend speaks to me because "Let My Love Open the Door" (Empty Glass) is a constant reminder that Jesus has...
....the only key to your heart
I can stop you falling apart
Try today, you'll find this way
Come on and give me a chance to say
Let my love open the door
It's all I'm living for
Release yourself from misery
Only one thing's gonna set you free
That's my love
Speaking of Jesus, what an awesome reminder of His love and sacrifice! Yes it's Prince!
" I Would Die 4 U"
You're just a sinner I am told
Be your fire when you're cold
Make u happy when you're sad
Make u good when u are bad
I'm not a human
I am a dove
I'm your conscious
I am love
All I really need is 2 know that
U believe
In the early '90s I was pretty busy. I was raising my awesome daughter as a single mother and I was working...hard. In a restaurant. One day in the bar a customer and I were discussing the video on the TV. He was a Catholic and he made the point that this song by Sting isn't about a human love affair, but the most important love in our lives. "If Ever I Lose My Faith in You." It's always been a blessing to me how some things happen right when you need for them to happen.
You could say I lost my sense of direction
You could say all of this and worse but
If I ever lose my faith in you
There'd be nothing left for me to do
This list is hardly complete. In fact it merely scratches the surface of the way that I experience my faith through music, but when this happened today, I knew I needed to share.
Today after a briefly irritating chat with a friend from home who tends towards negativity but is trying (I hope) to cultivate some love in his heart this song popped into my head...weird because I would have changed the station had it come on the radio, but into my head? Carly Simon was on frequent rotation in the Blackburn household of my childhood. I think we had all her 8-tracks (yep). I thought I was tired TO DEATH of her music, but I had to Google the lyrics. Ah. I see. Thank you.
You showed me how, how to fill my heart with love
How to open up and drink in all that white light
Pouring down from the heaven
I haven't got time for the pain
I haven't got room for the pain
I haven't the need for the pain
Not since I've known you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4HLHuS3hkw
A gentle reminder...much appreciated. Maybe you think I take things out of context, or maybe I selectively hear the lyrics that match my beliefs...but that's my point. I'd rather take a song out of context than.... something more significant. And it seems to work for me...why? Because in addition to all that love I try to nurture in my heart, something else is already in there...and I believe it acts as a receiver :-). Eric Clapton sang about it in (of course) "I've Got a Rock 'n' Roll Heart":
I guess there's nothing left for me to explain
Here's what you're getting and I don't want to change...I don't want to change!
I get off on '57 Chevys
I get off on screaming guitar
Like the way it gets me every time it hits me
I've got a rock 'n' roll—I've got a rock 'n' roll heart
What does all this mean?
I believe that when God is in your heart, you'll experience Him where you are.
He is always with me.
And He speaks to me through something that is also in my heart.
His message is Love. And I hear Him.
Charlotte
The 2012 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 189
blog: www.charlotteinjogja.blogspot.com
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