zero360/music

For the Asking

Nov 18, 2007 faith

A songwriter friend asked me Friday night how I find time to do anything but work and tend to our family and household, in the context of a conversation about being a songwriter/artist. I thought about it (again — this wasn’t the first or last conversation on the matter) on the drive home and came to a simple conclusion: grace. Perhaps this sounds trite, but I see grace as the oil for my soul, and in context of the time and effort I’m able to put into music and writing, it’s all of grace.

First and foremost, I believe the source of this grace is God. But it’s practical manifestation is what I need to recognize, acknowledge daily, and most importantly be ever grateful for. Not just in a ho-hum prayer of thanks, but deep within, where thanksgiving trumps my passion for self-absorption.

I keep a dictionary of theology near my desk (Baker’s). Two grace definition keywords are speaking to me in the context of this thread: “undeserved favor”.  It’s so easy for me to stumble over that which I don’t get done because of my commitments in life, that I’m prone to forgetting any time or effort applied toward writing is a measure of undeserved favor. I’m fortunate to have one job that supplies abundantly for our family instead of having to struggle working 14-16 hours daily to simply make ends meet. Our family is healthy. My wife encourages me to spend time on music and writing. Our children sing my songs back to me. So, how often and how do I thank them, and God? Honestly, not often enough — not by a longshot.

The very fact that I’m writing a post on this topic is grace in that God wants me to reflect on the the matter. I’m pretty sure it’s not about the music or songs, but about the scraping of the sludge on my heart. Psalm 51:6 says “surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.” I’ve read this passage almost daily now for a couple of weeks and these words are serving to oil the cracks left behind by the scraping. Grace is favor, it’s free, and it’s available to anyone who’s humble enough to want it and ask for it… including me.

Tags: ask, grace, songs