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October 2007
Feelin' Country Country music. Those two words alone are more than enough to put pictures in people's heads. Dusty old photographs of fence posts, horses, old dogs dying, and women and men breaking each other's hearts so they'll have something to sing about later on when they're looooonly, oh, so looooonelyyy... You may also add some images of a honky-tonk stage, line dancing, square dancing, and beer flowing through it all. Some people hate it. Some people love it. I grew up with it. I have a mother who raised her daughters on two kinds of music, the oldies and country music. My older sister also likes country music so I was a hopeless case from the beginning. I was bound to eventually like it too. I enjoyed it growing up, sang the songs, but never really got into it besides buying a few George Straight CD's and listening to it on the radio when I got bored with another station. Usually, I listen to one of three Christian radio stations with occasional jumps to NPR which has a lot of interesting information and discussions I otherwise would have never heard. But sometimes, I get bored with the same music being played over and over again and I am in the mood for something a little different. So last week, while driving through town, I went dial hunting. Nine clicks past NPR is a local country radio station based out of Eugene, Oregon. Who knew? Country music reminds me of my childhood and I like it in it's own right. When I was in college, I took a class in Country Dancing, Country-Western Swing being one of my all time favorite kinds of dance. I loved it, the music, the movements, it was bliss! So now country music, both old and new, brings back fun memories from that time as well. Honestly, when I found that station, I was expecting that old dog to die and the wife to walk out and the abandoned man to croon about how lonely he was and how bad his beer tasted. (He obviously never tried the Ruby beer at McMiniman's. He'd be singing a different tune.) But to my surprise, that is not what I heard. In addition to country-swing, I love being told a good story and through music is even better. It seems to me each different type of music usually focuses on certain subjects. Christian music has a lot of singing to God and sometimes, even God singing to us. Those songs have meant a lot to me but I need something else as well, something only country music can offer. Stories. Country music is chock full of wonderful stories and they are usually about our relationship with others. Some make me laugh, some make me cry. Usually cry. They usually always make me think. As I have listened to these songs, one after another, the thought occurred to me they should be playing them on the Christian radio stations I usually listen to. Christian songs usually have a lot to say about our relationship with God but not a lot about our relationships with each other or even how we value life. The songs I have been listening to have a lot to say about all three. The running theme I have noticed through them all is valuing what you have in your life and being thankful for it. And, they even say who you ought to be thankful to. God. He seems to come up a lot in country music. Frankly, I have learned more about life and God in the last week of listening to this country music station than I have in months of listening to Christian music. I still value Christian music, it's been instrumental in my life, but these country ballads have breathed in me a new appreciation for life and the simple things that create such beauty around me. Take a look at these lyrics and you'll see what I mean. Lucky Man
Performed by Montgomery Gentry Aren't those amazing lyrics? It's such a beautiful song and brings to my mind all the wonderful things in my life I am so grateful for and that make me a "lucky man". Tonight as I stood in my kitchen licking yellow cake batter off my fingers, I was reminded of this song and felt how lucky I truly am. I live with a wonderful roommate in a place that is truly a home for the both of us. This one gift has meant more to me than I can possibly say. But also, my car is running and gets me where I need to go, I have food in my stomach and in my cupboard, friends who love me and are there for me, and hands blessed with work. Isn't that amazing? It's life amazing? Sometimes I get so caught up in little problems and feeling down, I forget to look around me, to thank God for all of the rich blessings in my life, and to take the time to enjoy them. Really enjoy them. There's another song the station has been playing about an interview with a man 102 years old and he says that a hundred years goes fast than you think. Well, even being far younger than that, I can understand what he means for life does seem to go so quickly. If we are to truly live our short lives, we must remember and act on what is truly important, and I'll give you a hint, you aren't going to find it in a store or at the bank. The truly important things in your life aren't things, they are the people you hold in your arms and the God who holds you in his. Tell this to each other, teach it to your children. Make sure you are putting your relationships first. They are the only things that really last and they are beautiful, hold them close. Then, when you look at their faces and gratitude rushes over you, lift your head, sing out a country song or two to the one who gave them to you, and learn all the things through the music you hear, vocal or otherwise.
In Him,
News The second book and most of the matted poetry will be for sale at Silverton Friends Church in Silverton, OR for their Christmas Bazaar to be held on November 2nd and 3rd. If you need directions, send me an e-mail and I willlet you know. This is my third year with them and it has become one of my favorite events. It truly is very well doneand I encourage you all to go to see the beautiful handwork of so many talented artists and crafters.
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