Sometimes the music’s not playing…
I love, love, love music. I set the background of music to as much of my world as I possibly can. Pandora when I’m baking, cleaning, writing, driving. The music channels for ambiance when guests come over. It lifts my spirits, keeps my attitude in check and generally just makes everything in my life a little warmer and richer.
So imagine my dismay when I went running this morning and pandora was not working on my phone. I wasn’t a happy camper. Everything in me wanted to stop and turn back, not wanting to face a run without tunes. But I didn’t. I think part of me just kept wishing that the music would magically reappear. Unfortunately, it never did.
The music wasn’t playing…
Which meant many things.
I would hear my own panting and racing heart instead of my favorite songs. Not pretty.
I wouldn’t be distracted from sore muscles and aching lungs and frozen fingertips. Ugh.
I would be bored with the only rhythm being my feet pounding on the pavement. Grrrrrr.
I would run a little faster to be done a little quicker. 🙂
I would start humming to myself and creating a new song. (Much to the chagrin of passersby.)
Sometimes the music just isn’t playing…
Sometimes in life, we are left to grind through the tough stuff without the relief of the “music” pieces to soften the process.
And sometimes, believe it or not, that’s a good thing.
It removes distraction from the task at hand. It helps us hear how our heart is really doing. It shows us, without the pleasure of “easy listening” where we’re at on (or off) the path and to have a clear mind to figure out the next step. It helps us recognize the parts of us that are “out of shape” or broken or sprained and need healing. We begin to tune in to the rhythm we’re moving to and re-evaluate our pace. And if we listen long enough and closely enough, we might find a tune in the grind of it all. A new song with different words. A melody that is composed out of the pain and revelation and hard work and healing. With fresh lyrics written by God Himself.
Sometimes it is just, literally, a DRY RUN.
But it won’t stay that way. It is just a process. “Joy will come with the morning”. Jesus came to bring us abundant life. A life where the music plays loud and free. It might take a dry spell, a silent time, a tuneless time for reflection and change and healing to find it. But there WILL be a song at the finish line of the season. A celebration of what God did, even when we couldn’t see it, in the quiet run.
Psalm 30:2-5 – O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit. Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
Psalm 40:3 – He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.
John 10:10 – The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
