Lists make the World Go Round

    Life is more than challenging as of late. When that happens, I like to list things that make me happy during the day.

1. Flannel
2. My Palmetto flag flip flops
3. Talking with the barista at a local coffee shop (he almost went to Georgia...back in the 80's...when it was     REALLY a party school..according to him)
4. eating dinner outside (ok...that was yesterday, but it was great)
5. friends who take time to listen even when they have way more going on than I do
6. Phone calls from college roommates
7. naps
8. typing up curriculum I wrote 2 years ago
9. wearing my reading glasses (I pretend I don't like wearing them, but I do)
10. shampoo that makes my hair smell good (oooohhh, it smells like mint)

that is all.

A little tune

 I heard there was a secret chord, that David played and it pleased the Lord

                                                                           --Leonard Cohen, Hallelujah

     Have you ever noticed that no one asks the question "do you like music"? We ask if someone likes sports or reading or mexican food, but no one asks if you're interested in music. Rather, you ask what type of music someone likes. There is an assumption in that question. People like music. We all do. There is a strange tie between our beings and melodies and harmonies. Our souls need music.

     Last week I was reading 1 Samuel and we see that when David plays the lyre, the evil spirit tormenting Saul goes away. I think we can relate to that. We've all had an experience when we are tired, weary and tormented by our lives and music helps to soothe what ails us. From hymns to Otis Redding to bluegrass, there is always some song that can get through when nothing else can.

    Isn't it beautiful that in a world of tangible and materialism, there is proof of the invisible God through His provision of music?  And he has made it for everyone. It is one of the few things in life that spans all cultures, generations, time periods. He has made music not only fun and enjoyable, but medicinal. It brought relief to Saul, to crying children needing a lullaby and to my heart last week. And in that relief, music reproduces. One goes from listening, to singing. From taking in the joys of sound to making sound. Music is unique not just in being universal, but in its very nature. It moves. From one person to the next, making an impact on each person. It regenerates itself all while helping to strengthen spirits.

    To me, music is one of the most mysterious things. It is extravagant, but so normal. It is overlooked, but powerful. It's magic.

 

When I wake up in the morning...

     29 is not old. It just isn't. But my students say things sometimes and I am really blown away by the fact that I've been on this world significantly longer than they have. Let me give you an example.

While driving four kids home from a retreat, one guy says:
   Hey Sara...did you know that the chick from White Collar was in Saved by the Bell? Have you ever seen Saved by the Bell?

Oh my. Let me tell you something, whipper snapper, I grew up on three things: green beans, Kentucky basketball and Saved by the Bell. I owned the board game for heaven's sake. When TBS had an all night Saved by the Bell marathon, I watched the whole thing. People my age, we learned that taking caffeine pills was bad thanks to Jesse Spano. I've been scared of those things since I was 11. I won't even partake in energy drinks because I fear that the evening will end up with me singing "I'm so excited, I'm so excited, I'm so, so scared." In the same way that I had a massive crush on Zack Morris, every dude my age had a huge crush on Kelly Kapowski aka that chick from White Collar. So, buddy, get an education and never talk about my childhood staples as if they are ancient greek. I will fight you the way Screech fought Zack for Lisa's love.

Guitar Case Idolatry

     Recently I bought a new guitar. It's beautiful and everything a guitar should be. One of the things that made me especially excited was the hard case that came with it. For the last nine years I have had to carry a pegboard case which was left wanting in my eyes. Cool kids carry hard cases with stickers on it. And I wanted one. I wanted it really bad. Looking the part was half the battle, right? How was anyone going to take me seriously if I had a subpar case? Especially at all those high profile gigs I play...oh wait, no gigs, just occasionally playing a song or two for a youth group of 40 kids. But I NEEDED that case.

     And I got it.

     Let me tell you, cool kids don't carry those cases, strong kids carry those cases. Like really strong people. They must be strong as an ox. It's ridiculous. When I carry it, I wish that someone would offer to carry it for me. It makes me grumpy whenever I have to carry it and I'll choose to leave it at my office rather than take it home. I get winded carrying it up the stairs. Sometimes I take the elevator up one floor. That's embarrassing. But its crazy heavy.

    And isn't life the same way? We want something so much, long for it, hope for it. And then we get it and it is much heavier than we expect. There are more implications than we are aware of. The thing that was supposed to make us "cool" actually makes us burdened. It takes away our freedom. The one thing we hoped for becomes a paralyzing possession. Then we hope that someone will take it from us, save us from our oppression.

    This is a hard place to be. Overwhelmed, disappointed and afraid to hope for anything else. But we can be free. We can hope and be restored, because Jesus saves us. And not just from the big picture, eternal stuff, but from the everyday, practical stuff. His love is big enough to save my soul and intimate enough to save me from my monotonous idolatry. There is life in that. That is hallelujah.