Nothing speaks to my own heart as much as a well turned phrase sung to a beautiful or catchy melody. That combination can be soothing and stress can leave much like removing your coat as the day warms. Music reaches deeply into a place that is well guarded, an emotional wellspring, a spiritual reserve. It ministers when other methods may fall short.
Sometimes the melody haunts you or the words get your attention. Certain moments of our lives are even defined by music. A song, a set of lyrics, can take us back to another time, another place. Who hasn't had his/her blood stirred by the national anthem, when it is well done with power and dignity? Or is your experience that it is always followed by the words, "Play ball!" That's OK with me-you get the idea. Music should stir you and create a response.
I take many genres of music very seriously and enjoy a wide variety. From "I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow" by the Soggy Bottom Boys,(who are not babies needing a diaper change, but rather banjo pickin', beard wearin' guys), to "Die Fledermaus" by Johann Strauss, I like it.
If you listen very carefully, there is music in the air. I have written several little songs that were used at a Christian camp for praise and worship. I carefully chose the words, but the melody was there, I just had to be still. I will share a little bit with you. Perhaps you can see it is only natural to go from poetry to song lyrics. David, the shepherd king knew that. Here are a few lines from three of my original songs.
(From "Welcome Home the Prodigal Again" This song is about someone who, like the prodigal in the parable is coming back to the Father and reacts to the love offered so freely.)
"How can I face a love so wondrous? I see your arms reaching out to me. They welcome and remind me of another, whose outstretched arms were pierced with nails for me. You welcome home the prodigal again, yes, you do. You welcome home the prodigal again." D.B. 1985
(From "The Appleseed Song" This is a song for children about the growth of an apple and our faith.)
"Just a little seed, withered and brown, but Oh it's full of promise. Just a little seed in the ground but it's planted there with love. Oh, all that I can be in inside of me, I just have to yield and grow." D.B. 1981
(And finally, from "Fight the Good Fight")Nearly word for word scripture. (II Cor. 10)
"We're living in a combat zone, yes we are. We're living in a combat zone, everyday. But the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty from God to the pulling down of strongholds. So put on the armor that your God supplies that you might withstand in the evil day." D.B. 1992 Doma (D.B.)03/02/2009
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