Hey Bro,
So many thoughts going through my heart the past few days... do I share about my view (or lack of view) of the two sides of Easter, or how awesome it was to watch The Masters and Bubba Watson, or one of the highlights of the weekend...watching We Bought a Zoo with the family? Too Much goes unsaid between us!
I guess to be predictable, I'll start with music related ideas. I think I mentioned recently that Davis has restarted drum lessons, and he is loving it. It is amazing to see him pick it up so quickly and enjoy it so much. One of the things that has been fun is to watch him learn a rhythm and then play it along to a song. His electronic drum kit allows you to plug in an iPod and play with it. He thinks it totally awesome, and I have to admit it is pretty cool. He learns a new rhythm and old Dad says, "hey that sounds like..." and off we go looking for songs on iTunes. His first song was New Sensation by INXS, which I absolutely love.
But last week he learned a slightly different rhythm at a slightly slower speed. The second he started playing this rhythm in his drum teacher's garage, I heard these lyrics (and like usual, started to tear up a bit)...
Let me be your everlasting light
Your sun when there is none
I'm a shepherd for you
And I'll guide you through
Let me be your everlasting light
Let me be your everlasting light
I'll hold and never scold
In me you can confide
When no one's by your side
Let me be your everlasting light
Oh baby, can't you see
It's shining just for you
Loneliness is over
Dog days are through
They're through
Let me be your everlasting light
Your train going away from pain
Love is the coal that makes this train roll
Let me be your everlasting light
Yeah, let me be your everlasting light
Let me be your everlasting light
Be your everlasting light
I thought of these words again as I read the lyrics and listened to Mike Scott yesterday. It may be risky theology to put the words of The Black Keys in red letters... but I can't do much better these days than to hear this song that way. And I realize, it isn't an easy ask. I am not even sure what it means. As a matter of fact, I haven't been willing or able to let him be my everlasting light... I don't like the darkness and try to make my own light when it is here. Does letting him be my light mean being willing to live with the darkness, and the uncertainty that comes with letting someone else be the light? But oh, how I welcome the words "love is the coal that makes this train roll." Can the dog days be through, really?
Fittingly, this song is the first track on their CD, Brothers. This is how it goes... (I like the studio version better, but couldn't find it viewable on mobile devices. This is a live version from MSG, complete with disco ball).
I love it. Love the though of Davey playing you and your roll-a-dex music mind matching beat to song. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThere will always be more to share than the time to fit it in together. I just want you to know that my heart is towards you and that I still deeply need our friendship. Need you.
I think what I liked about the Waterboys song is that Mike sounds in a place where he can't do shit. He can't fake his own resurrection, he can't create life, he is in need to be carried there by another. I think what I miss about our friendship the most these past few days is that when the darkness comes and the light gone, you were there. I can't create my own light. I see it most in the reaction that I have to my boys at times, I see it in my inability to be goofy and laugh, I see it in the constriction. I am hoping that prayers like Mike's and the Keys are the promise of things to come - not just cosmically but in my life particularly.