Quick visit to Texas last week to immerse in my new team, exchange a few hugs and walk around Ranger's stadium in the freezing cold with my friend and her kids. Loved every minute of it! That tree in the middle stands somewhere about second base and sticks up over the cheap seats. I was in there a while before I noticed the music. In all fairness I was wearing a fleece headband over my ears. But it was there, nevertheless. Before long I was humming along.
Left DFW in the wee hours and arrived at ILM in time for lunch at Philly Deli. Y'all cheesesteak purists may not appreciate it but this Alabama girl cannot imagine the sandwiches in Pennsylvania taste anything close to this heaven on a bun topped with melty cheese. We came out and realized there was a small brass ensemble playing down by the K&W (we don't eat there anymore since Hubby heard people got sick from it a few years back - and that's ok with me). It was cold and the rain was starting and I was worn out from the week and the travel, but we linked arms (I missed him) and headed down the sidewalk for a closer listen. Before long I was humming along.
There's a Christmas playlist on my iPod - yes, I'm the lone holdout who still uses one... there's just something about that clicky noise I appreciate. I recently bought a little speaker thing and have it playing through my day. Work colleagues, if I'm on a call with you and you hear something strange... I may be humming along. Must remember to mute.
Back in the day, my favorite album (Yes. Album. Vinyl. Back before it was hipster chic. Actually, I was kinda hipster back when it was just awkward. I digress.) was Dan Fogelberg's Home Free. I listened to it over and over, lifting the arm and finding the right groove to select or repeat. Along the way there was a tiny scratch that caused a little hitch in one of the songs. It would just hiccup and keep going - so as I listened the skip became less and less noticeable. I didn't even realize it was there until I bought Home Free on CD. (And played it on my Walkman, ok? I'm OLD. We did this stuff.) As I listened to the scratch-free CD, it sounded wrong. I was so accustomed to the skip that the real version sounded wrong. Let me say that again: I got so used to hearing it wrong that the right way now sounded wrong. I don't think I've communicated that very well. But. There's this stunning thing here. There's a soundtrack playing all the time. Maybe our own voice that narrates life inside us. Maybe somebody close enough to whisper-shout in our ear. And over time, it gets damaged. Warped. But we just keep on listening. And humming. Soon, the damage becomes the norm. The damage becomes the norm. The truth sounds foreign. Us just humming the lies. The only way to get back in the right groove (wink) is to replace the lies with truths - and hum those until our souls know by heart. (I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. Psalm 139:14)
What are the scratches that have become familiar? What is warped and damaged? What are our personal lies? And what is true? Let me rephrase that: WHO is true? Because, truth isn't a concept or an opinion. Truth is a person. And he's got a birthday coming up. He left the glory of heaven to sing songs - true and righteous - from a human mouth to human ears. His soundtrack of love and redemption plays endlessly across time - even when we don't notice. Even when we muffle it on purpose. It is there nevertheless. And we are invited to hum along. O come. Let us adore him. Tune my heart to sing thy praise. Selah.
Just so you know - I now have Home Free on my iPod. Conquering modern technology in leaps and bounds. So there.
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