Love and Music

A lot of serious things are happening in the world right now, as always. However, it's all in God's hands anyway, and He has already finished the novel (read Revelation), so I thought I would write about something perhaps more enjoyable - love and music!

First, MUSIC!

Maxwell, whom I am a big fan of, recently released a new album. Of the nine songs I like all but two, Playing Possum and Phoenix Rising. Those two songs seem to have a disjointed harmony, actually making it difficult for me to listen to. Pretty Wings and Bad Habits both have the classic quality of thoughtful lyrics and and passionate melody that Maxwell is known for. "Cold" has a nice up tempo jazz feel. Also, the song count of 9 is a little low for the abilities of someone like Maxwell. With such a low song count, I think he should have dropped the last two, and worked on one more really solid piece. I rate it 3.5 out of 5.

Over the years, I have enjoyed the music of Lenny Kravitz. I recently checked out his new album, It is Time for a Love Revolution. Impressive. Classic retro sounds brilliantly put together. I especially like the energy of "Love Revolution", "Bring it On", and "If You Want It". The sincerity and heart break of "I'll Be Waiting" and "A Long and Sad Good Bye" are truly touching.
The only song I don't like is "Good Morning" - a little too cheery for my taste, maybe because I'm NOT a morning person. I rate it 4 out of 5.

The news is out that SADE (purposefully spelled in all caps) and her band are working on a new album to be released perhaps as early as November. Take your time your highness, it will be worth the wait. Eagerly looking forward to it.

Next, LOVE!

I was reading on Maxwell's Sony music site the following quote about the song, "Pretty Wings": "How you meet the person of your dreams but at the wrong time." There is a lot I have yet to learn in this life, but one thing I have strongly concluded is this: When it comes to love, THERE IS NO WRONG TIME. There is time, and love. Period. Seriously. Max, if you really met the love of your life, and she wasn't married, and you let her go, you messed up - BIG TIME (See Proverbs 31:10-12). That's one reason why the divorce rate is 50+ percent. People think it's the "right" time, but quickly find out, the "right" time is fleeting - the next year it often turns out to be the "wrong" time. That's also why some people can know each other for a week, get married, and celebrate their 50th anniversary. Other people can live with each other for 10 years, finally get married, and divorce the next year. Love is more than a feeling, it is a DECISION. You DECIDE to love someone, regardless of the time, right or wrong, good or bad. When it comes to love, hopefully that decision is based on true and genuine feelings along with much thought and honest reflection, but it is still a decision, nonetheless. When the times change or the feelings change, it is STILL a decision. I was watching an interview of James DeBarge talking about his marriage to Janet Jackson: "Right love at the wrong time". James, please, there was nothing wrong with the time, YOU were what was wrong. If James DeBarge was as sober as a choir boy when he married Janet, would 10 years later be the right time to be a crack head?

Think about this, what if God decided to stop loving us every time we did something REALLY stupid or evil? I shudder to think....

I would also like to reflect on Biblical examples of romantic love (we can talk about agape later). One of the most prominent examples, of course, is Song of Solomon. But there are also the examples of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and possibly my favorite couple, Jacob and Rachel. These examples demonstrate a passion and a purpose that is a model for us in our relationships today.

Song of Solomon - the epitome of passion and virtue. In my opinion, the defining example of romantic love as God meant it to be.

Abraham and Sarah - God gave them a baby when Sarah was 90 and Abraham was a 100, thousands of years before Viagra OR fertility treatments. God IS good.

Isaac and Rebekah - Their marriage was arranged before either set sight on the other. Talk about trust and faith in God! God is the tie that binds a marriage.

Jacob and Rachel - Moments after Jacob first saw Rachel, in front of other men, at that time and in that culture, he KISSES HER and weeps for joy. Then Jacob proceeds to work 14 YEARS for FREE, before he marries her! Imagine THAT wedding night!

On a personal note, I am missing my husband right now, as he is working out of town. So I have been thinking a lot about how people take their spouses for granted, and how special love really is - in spite of the work and monotony that tends to set in a marriage. I was listening to a sermon recently in which the pastor said that Jesus made love a verb. In other words, while love is definitely an emotion, just as importantly, it is something we must DO in order for it to become real in our lives. This applies to ALL kinds of love.

So remember, when it comes to love, JUST DO IT! Preferably in the presence of some good music, ;).

God Bless.