I love music. For those that know me, this is no secret. When I say that I love music I don't just mean that I love only pop songs or rocks songs, jazz songs or country songs. I love a little bit of all types of music. Ever since I was a kid (some might argue that I still am) I have always envisioned that my life had a soundtrack behind it. Depending on what was or is currently happening in my world, I always thought there was some background music. I can remember that from an early age I loved having music pumping into my head. It used to be on portable radios then the God of music blessed us with the 'Walkman' and it changed my world. Then I was able to make my own tapes and my soundtracks took a whole new direction; I created my own play lists to get me through any situation. I remember even making tapes for girls I liked. My early start in the DJ craft. :-)
Now I am 37 and my need for a 'soundtrack' hasn't changed a bit. But the God of music given us some great new toys. I have an iPod, which is just the bomb. On my iPod I have over 4,000 songs. Artists ranging from Van Halen to Miles Davis to Amy Grant escort me on long drives, train trips, walks, working out... ok, I don't work out, but you get the point. I also have Satellite Radio in the car for non-stop sports and political talk and every style of music available to me with just the turn of the dial. My background music is with me everywhere I go. I'm not quite as obsessive about my background music as my friend Seth. Seth shows up everywhere with earphones in the ear and his iPod on his hip. I'm sure if Seth met President Bush he would hold up his hand to Dubya and say, 'hang on.....' (removing his earphones) 'ok, what were you saying?' Seth got me into the iPod experience and I'm forever grateful.
I've said all this simply to set up a scene for you that I experienced the other day while arriving at the hotel we stay at in Salina, KS. When I work a train from Wichita to Herington, KS, we then take a van ride an hour away to stay overnight in Salina. To explain why we do this is another blog on the inane actions of one Union Pacific Railroad; I don't have that kind of time. Anyway, as we were pulling up into the Hotel we had to wait in a line behind several other cars before the van could pull up and let us off by the door; you certainly didn't think we were going to walk did you? As I was sitting in the van I was listening to my iPod and had it in 'shuffle' mode. This allows the iPod to play whatever song it wishes; you never know what song will be next. Since I have over 4,000 songs, I get to hear tunes I haven't heard for some time.
While enjoying my potpourri of music, I notice one of the gals that works at the front desk sitting outside the front doors on a park-like bench. She was smoking and looking very sad. With every puff she took from her cigarette, I saw her hand shake. As I looked at her I felt bad for her. Remember that I will cry at the dumbest commercial or silliest movie. I cried during the movie 'Because of Winn Dixie' for goodness sakes. I have hormonal issues I think. But I also know that I am very empathetic towards people that are hurting, lonely and depressed. As this young gal took yet another drag of smoke into her lungs I saw her begin to cry. It wasn't a desperate cry or one that shook her whole body, but simply a long, steady tear began to fall down her left cheek. Her right cheek soon became moist with tears and she did her best to conceal what was going on as people rushed by her going in and out of the Hotel doors.
At that very moment that I saw the tears begin to fall a song started playing on my iPod. I hadn't heard this song in probably more than 2 or 3 years. Off the top of my head I couldn't even remember who sang it. I could tell it was from the 70's because of the acoustic guitars and vocal harmonies. It was a beautiful song. As I listened to the lyrics and watched this girl weep I was very moved. I so wanted to run out and put the headphones on her and tell her to listen to this song because this was part of her soundtrack for the moment and God had something to say to her. The song is by Firefall and it's called, 'Just remember I love you'. The chorus kept saying , 'Just remember I love you and it'll be alright. Just remember I love you, more than I can say.' I so wanted this girl to her this message. About the time that I thought I had the courage to maybe say something or do something, she got up, wiped her face and went back inside to finish her shift.
But this song stayed with me. I replayed this tune probably 7 times. My soundtrack for the day was a song of love, hope and just a touch of sadness. I started thinking about my family members that are experiencing difficult times. I started thinking about marriages that I know aren't doing well. I started thinking of all those that hurt for reasons we may never know. I started thinking of moms and dads that have lost sons and daughters on the battlefield. I stated thinking of my own problems and I just couldn't hear those words enough: 'Just remember I love you and it'll be alright'. Can you ever hear those words enough? I don't know if God would write super cool love songs from the 70's, but if He did, I think this song would be close to the result. A Simple, kind, soft and yet timeless message from a timeless Love.
Romans 8: 38-39 says this:
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We need to remember that even though God may not give us the specific answers to our problems, he gives us the constant condition in which he meets us at all problem times. The condition is Love. There are no answers for problems in this song, just the hope and knowledge that you are Loved; no matter what.
I made a web page with the song and lyrics. If you need a pick-me-up, check it out.
http://members.cox.net/kstarheel3/Firefall.html
