Music is the color of life
I was given the task by a friend of choosing 10 songs that greatly influenced me. I will post one song per day, for 10 consecutive days. Each song draws the picture more clearly, showing what has inspired me or just given me solace.
TODAY the cycle is complete. Ten things I know about me. I selected the songs to develop a story, and now we come to the part where the sun is rising on a new day.
I started with music as pure color — as sound and rhythm and feeling, of seeing through my mind the world of beauty around me.
Now we are where music is expressed in color, by the people who make it, by the people who share it, by the people who find life in the music.
For music is life-affirming. You know that. Music communicates to us the feelings of what life means, yes. And then there’s this: music connects us to others who have similar feelings, who are given the breath of the spirit through music. My musical selections are about me and what moves me, yes, but the music was created by others in this great wide world by people who are saying through their creation “This is joy. This is life. This is love.”
The final selection is from a relatively recent production house based in Atlanta, Maverick City Music. They’re young and fresh like new things are, and they comprise the people who are the youngest members of our Beloved Community.
This song, PROMISES, is about that thing that youth have in measures that perhaps we have not been filled by recently: belief in tomorrow. We made this happen, you know, that our children believe us and believe in the power of love and of change and of hope. We taught them that there is something to live for, that life has meaning, and that in spite of the wicked world they have been brought into, they have the power to bring healing because of the promises — the promises we made, the promises our laws and systems made, and the very promises God made. They believe — as we once did — that they have power in their love and their hope. To listen to this warms my own heart that has sometimes grown weary. Yes. God is still faithful. There is still a generation who will praise his name.
This song again ties in with current events so well it’s uncanny to me as I chose these songs for their meaning to me and yet they are commentaries on what is happening to us, right now.
Our children have believed in our promises and believed in their power and even believe in the great God of love and creation and redemption, and they are going to live an intentional life and take actions because they believe in the promises.
If you have ears to hear, listen.
Promises
Written by Joe L Barnes, Carrington Gaines, Keilla Alvarado, Lemuel Marin, Aaron Moses, and Dante Bowe
Featuring Joe L Barnes and Naomi Raine
Performed by the Maverick City Music Choir and the Maverick City family and friends
God of Abraham, God of covenant and of faithful promises
Time and time again You have proven You’ll do just what you said
Though the storms may come and the winds may blow I’ll remain steadfast
And let my heart learn when you speak a word it will come to pass
Great is your faithfulness to me
Great is your faithfulness to me
From the rising sun, to the setting same
I will praise your name
Great is your faithfulness to me
God from age to age, though the earth may pass away,
Your word remains the same
You’re history can prove there’s nothing You can’t do,
You’re faithful and True
Though the storms may come and the winds may blow I’ll remain steadfast
And let my heart learn when you speak a word it will come to pass
Great is your faithfulness to me
Great is your faithfulness to me
From the rising sun, to the setting same
I will praise your name
Great is your faithfulness to me
I put my faith in Jesus
My anchor to the ground
My hope and firm foundation
He’ll never let me down
This is the song “Promises” on video. But unfortunately, it cannot be played on this website. You must open it on YouTube.