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| Joy Williams and John Paul White of The Civil Wars |
Here it is. It’s March. I can’t believe it either. And February was even longer than usual this year! Lent came early, so we are into this season that asks us to slow down and pause and reflect. As the journey of Jesus goes, so goes the journey of our faith. Lent brings with it some very meaningful themes, including the darkness of Jesus’ last few days on earth. Yet within that darkness lies the hope of the light that springs forth once darkness is overcome—once death is overcome.
Many of you know that I am a lover of music and have a deep appreciate of all sorts of genres, but mostly the way that music seems to pick up where our spoken and written language leaves off. Through melody, harmony, and lyric, the combination expresses a creativity that we just can’t duplicate through other mediums.
I appreciate music through worship as much as any other parts of that action. I cannot imagine a time of worship without song, nor can I just sing the melody line in most of our hymns—I have to sing the harmonies that go with it. And I usually lean much more on the expressions of the music itself—for as much as I appreciate language, for me personally, the lyrics are not the core of the song, but the icing on the cake.
I recently became a big fan of a duo called The Civil Wars. Made up of Joy Williams and John Paul White, both formerly solo singer/songwriters on their own, they were randomly paired together at a songwriting workshop in Nashville a few years ago. What came out of their time together was a creativity and
musical talent unlike any I’ve ever seen or heard. Granted most music appeals to the heart and soul of each individual listener, but these two immediately captivated my complete attention. I started buying their music, watching their YouTube videos, following them on social media sites and on and on. I even wanted to travel to Atlanta to catch (what was then) their closest performance. Now just ask my wife, Kelly: I don’t ever do this kind of thing. I don’t get “smitten” or “obsessed” by musical groups or movie stars. But what they were
producing was speaking to me. I asked for concert tickets for my birthday, and I don’t ever ask for anything for my birthday. When they extended their tour to include a Tampa show—I was there! Kelly went with me and I delighted in seeing these musical heroes of mine. But what’s interesting about my focus on their music is that most of their songs have to do with darkness—with the complexities and nuances of being in a committed relationship—of heartbreak and love all at once—of that same collection of contrasts that are implied
through their group’s name. They admittedly have struck a chord with the reality that life is not so simply light or dark, but rather a daily struggle between the two.
As we live into this Lenten season a bit deeper, we understand that there are daily struggles of light and darkness—civil wars that wage between love and hate, between the moments of dusk and dawn. I can see these wars waging in the lives of people I know and love both near and far. I can see these wars waging
in our political spectrum—filled with contrasts a bit more each day. I can see these wars wage between the “haves” and the “have-nots”. And I know that Jesus lived and preached into these contrasts every moment of his life. In searching for the light, may we take joy in the journey, acknowledging the darkness, and seeking
to be those who can live by faith through anything life may bring.
Peace, Love, Hope and Joy,
Tim
