Rocky Mountain Climbing #13: What is the music inside of you?
Music is an important part of most people’s lives. Some time its influence is noticeable and sometime its not. Since Choices I have changed my taste in music quite a bit, so I thought I’d take a bit to look at what I used to listen to and what I listen to now.
And why.
I was a child of the 60’s and 70’s. The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, CSN&Y and on and on. To this day my two favorite rock songs are Eric Clapton’s “Layla” and CSN’s “Suite Judy Blue Eyes”. Have you ever listened to the words of these songs? Well they don’t really mean much. Many times the words were put together to complement the melody. I didn’t and still doesn’t seem to matter. When the first bars of “Layla” come on, wherever I am, I want to stand up and play my air guitar.
Another song I really liked was by the Eagles called “Lyin’ Eyes”, as in “honey you can’t hide your lyin’ eyes”. I listened to that for years and enjoyed it, Some time ago I realized I was living that life. Change the gender of the song, and it was me.
Maybe that’s why I have the word “Honest” in my Purpose.
Over time I realized that I could control what I listened to and that by doing so I could change my behavior. Or another way to say it was that by improving what I listened to I would improve.
So, what do I listen to now? I listen to songs that touch my heart. They can be rock and roll, country, gospel or Christian, classical. But maybe the commonality of what I listen to now the most, are songs that have somehow, sometime allowed me to share or expose a deep feeling that was followed by some type of tears. Tears of JOY. Tears of hurt. Tears of hope. Tears of GRACE.
My Choices Stretch song was “Standing Outside the Fire”, a very appropriate choice for me at the time. The song I would most like to do at Stretches is “Like a Rock”.
“Standing arrow straight, charging from the gate, like a rock.”
I have written recently about “Live Like You Were Dying”:
“…and I gave forgiveness I had been denying.”
And, “How Bad Do You Want It?””
“If you want to climb that mountain to the top, it always comes down to…
How bad do you want? Are you eating, sleeping, dreaming with that one thing on your mind?”
How about: “Dream High”. When I first heard this Thelma was doing a closed eye session for the coaches. I was laying down on the floor, listening to her voice asking us to relax, to know we were good enough and that God was watching and helping us with all that we were doing.
I still remember the river of tears when they played this song. It was so cleansing and freeing.
How about “Angels Among Us”?
“Momma couldn’t see him, oh but he was standing there.
And I knew in my heart he was the answer to my prayers.”
How about “I Can Only Imagine”.
It probably took me 20 times hearing it before I could listen to the song without crying. From listening to that song I know I would be on my knees and I would not be able to say anything.
One of the most important reasons I write is so I can hear and learn from you. Today, I received the following email from Joyce Putt of the Super Stretchers group that went through in November of last year. She wrote:
Hello my dear friends,
One of my sisters-in-law sent this to me. It is one of my most favorite songs and I play it almost every night while I’m getting ready for bed. In fact, I would love to have this song sung at my funeral…which I hope, with the grace of God, is not in the near future. I hope you take the time to listen to it and I hope you like it. Take care my dear friends. I love you all so very much and am anxious to see you in November.
With Love,
Joyce
This takes 2-3 minutes to play but it is worth it.
I think you will be blessed by this. Please click on this link: http://www.andiesisle.com/icanonlyimagine.html
I then wrote her a quick thank you after listening and crying with Suzy over the words and the song.
Let me tell you again about allowing God into your heart. I drove from Dallas to Denton this evening to take my son out to dinner. We had a great time. He had just aced a college test, so besides checking and making sure he was okay, we got a little celebration in.
On the way back I decided music was going to be RMC #13, and if Suzy was occupied I was going to write it tonight. Suzy was watching one of her favorite shows: ER (which I don’t care for), so I had the time to write.
The first email I saw was Joyce’s. Thank you God, for never in a million years could I have said it better than she:
You are very welcome Durk. I’m glad you like the song. Music always makes me feel better and when I listen to this song it brings me so much closer to God and reminds me of how lucky I am to have Him in my life. I turned my life over to God a few years ago before my divorce and He has been there for me and gotten me through some pretty tough situations since then. Take care and may God bless you.
Much Love,
Joyce
So what are you listening to? Email me and tell what you listening to and why you are listening to it.
Well that’s all for now. I was going to tell you how my favorite song “Amazing Grace” saved my life… but I think I’ll save that for another RMC.
Love, Durk
