The first in a long time
May 24th, 2009 by park
Wow, been awhile since I spewed my angst ridden and troubled mind onto the byways of the interwebs. I’ve been busy dear reader, with something I never thought I would want, much less enjoy. Back in April, my wife gave birth to my son. Since that time I’ve been on combined roller coasters of “I work too much to tend to my family” and “I can sleep enough to make anything feel normal”. Apparently, the wife is much the same. Probably more so since she gets up with the little fella all night. And stays up.
I shouldn’t complain. He’s a great kid. Sleeps alright, eats good, all 20 digits and so forth. But I find I have new worries. Instead of “what am I going to do to feed myself if the economy continues” it has become “how do I provide for my family as things slowly get worse”? Looking back though, it appears this has been the way parents have felt since the beginning of time.
I will spare you from the parental-speech everyone eventually gives into. “Your world changes” “Priorities shift” yada yada. I figure that was a given. What no one really seems to get is that whether or not someone spews it into your ear, it just happens. We’re programmed to be this way. So if you’re scared of having kids, let me be the first to tell you…everyone is. There is never a good time. Just do it, or not, the world will continue to spin. At least for another 15 million years, give or take.
Speaking of the world. I posted a video recently from a place called “Playing for Change”. Now, if you know me, you know that I am pretty much done with society as a whole. The way we live our lives is so counterbalance to the way the world should be I have just given up. This means people like Bono…bother me. Don’t get me wrong, he’s an alright musician (yeah, I said ALRIGHT) and his heart is definitely in the right place. But people who work that hard at an image of altruism just bug the hell out of me. At least Bradgalena have the decency to do good, and still somehow come off as that kooky cat lady down the street. Bono though…I just don’t get. I digress.
Playing for Change was started as a way to use music to unite people. The world, really. Which is not like “your” world, I mean THE world. Alot of what they do is inspired by Bob Marley’s work toward peace and unity, and the spirit lives on in their work.
Galileo once said “Mathematics is the language with which God has written the universe.” If that is true, then surely music is the tapestry upon which God designed his greatest masterpieces.
Music touches us in a wordless way. It can convey love, war, peace or hate with but a few notes. I once heard the Lord’s Prayer in Swahili, set to music and said “That is possibly the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard.” Even though I did not know what was said, I knew that is was lovely. If you’ve ever heard the Lord’s Prayer, it’s pretty dry. Not precisely what I would call man’s greatest poetry. After all, it was just a template for prayer. The point is, music can transcend languages, it can touch your heart when you didn’t know it was open, and it can sneak in when you least expect it and communicate the will of God.
Once, I got into a fight with a friend. Had a big ol’ argument. I got onto an elevator to go someplace and heard the MUZAK version of “Three Little Birds”. When I left the elevator, I had the tune stuck in my head. By the time I got home I was singing it. And before the day was over I had called and apologized for being so angry. (I was still right, but I should never have gotten that angry.)
Maybe it’s just me. But pay attention to the music you listen to. When everything is quite, and it’s just you and the Almighty sitting around…what song plays in your heart?
Have a VERY happy Memorial Day. And remember those who have gone to war so that we may enjoy the brief times we spend with one another in peace.