I was sitting in a bus riding across the tarmac of the
Schiphol airport in Amsterdam. The radio
was playing and I could hear Paul Simon singing, "If you'll be my bodyguard, I can be your long
lost pal. I can call you Betty and Betty
when you call me, you can call me Al."
My first inclination was to sing along and then I thought, many of the
Dutch can barely speak English and yet, they are listening to American
music. Hmmmm. As I continued to think about it, I remembered
being in Cuba and hearing nothing but Motown music blasting at the hostel where
we were staying. Or being in South
Africa and watching a couple dance in celebration of their anniversary to Lady
in Red by Lionel Ritchie. After letting
my mind traverse borders and continents and the accompanying musical soundtrack
playing in my head, I knew for sure that music is no respecter of person. It is there for all to enjoy.
Music has
the ability to transcend time, economics, race and nationality. There is something about a string of notes, a
thoughtful lyric and a catchy melody that makes your heart sing. Music can lift you up, move your feet (even
when rhythmically challenged), and inspire you to think outside of the
box. Music can shape the way you think
and what you appreciate. There isn't a
culture on earth that doesn't appreciate music.
But let's
face the truth. Music can move our
emotions, but it doesn't change our hearts.
For that to happen, it needs to be combined with the love of God. As
human beings, there is a part of us that longs to know our Creator and have an
intimate relationship with Him. When
that desire and later experience is put to music, the heavens join in as we
sing praises to our God. The love of God
knows no boundaries, limits, barriers or mindsets that it cannot pull down,
rearrange and realign. Music that
celebrates our Lord, Savior and God can produce eternal changes in every aspect
of our lives. It then becomes the melodies
of our hearts and of heaven.
We are
living in a time where race relations are strained in many countries. Hate is making itself evident in America,
Europe, Africa and in countries around the world. The only thing that can squash hate is the
love of God. His love changes us from
the inside out. It causes us to see
ourselves and others in the light of His grace, forgiveness and holiness. God's love never fails. When we take His love and put it to music, true
poetry is the result.
I don't
know about you, but I could sing of His love forever.....
Praise
Reports
