extempore: freely and without much preparation

The calendar haunts me sometimes, dates looming in the foreground daring me to write.a.post and then they whiz by in a blur. I want you to know that as I ponder and study I often stop to consider you my readers. Is what I am delving into and investing in with every fiber of my being worthy or your consideration? I often hesitate to write because sometimes I feel woefully unprepared and at other times not quite ready to commit.

So, mostly in an effort to free myself from the focus of research, I decided to periodically post extempore: freely and without preparation. I use latin because it seems to give shape to otherwise familiar words, to enliven concepts, and to awaken our thoughts. And, so that when you see extempore you’ll know it’s a quick post, a short conversation. And, here it means that I am thinking of you and wondering if what’s on my mind resonates with what’s on yours.

So, Bob and I love to watch The Voice and American Idol, for us there is something about discovering people from all walks of life who have been given the gift of song. So many of these brave souls, often unassuming and hesitant and almost always determined, have the ability to move us with their unique tone and haunting melodies.

God gifts us and moves us with music.

This week on The Voice, the gospel in an unexpected way came alive right in front of our eyes as the name of Jesus was honored in stories and lifted up in worship. Imagine Bob and me as this happens, simultaneously looking at each other, then back again at the show—moved by the gospel and laughing with a joy that is hard to explain.

God has this way of showing up in unlikely places and these transcendent moments prompt us to pay attention.

You see, God often uses these poets and troubadours to give utterance and melody to those deep questions of life that seem to hover just beneath the surface.

Take for example one of our favorites, Niall Horan’s, The Show:

If everythin' was easy, nothin' ever broke
If everythin' was simple, how would we know?
How to fix your tears, how to fake a show
How to paint a smile, yeah, how would we know?
How good we have it, though?

How would we know?

Or, Billie Eilish’s What Was I Made For?

I used to float, now I just fall down
I used to know but I'm not sure now
What I was made for
What was I made for?

Takin' a drive, I was an ideal
Looked so alive, turns out I'm not real
Just something you paid for
What was I made for?

I’m 65 and I still wonder sometimes, “What was I made for?”

Jelly Roll’s vulnerable witness ministers to so many who experience often indescribable pain with his song, I Am Not Okay

I am not okay
I'm barely getting by
I'm losing track of days
And losing sleep at night
I am not okay
I'm hanging on the rails
So if I say I'm fine
Just know I learned to hide it well

I woke up today
I almost stayed in bed
Had the devil on my back
And voices in my head
Some days, it ain't all bad
Some days, it all gets worse
Some days, I swear I'm better off
Layin' in that dirt

I know, I can't be the only one
Who's holding on for dear life
But God knows, I know
When it's all said and done
I'm not okay
But it's all gonna be alright
It's not okay
But we're all gonna be alright

Gonna be alright
Gonna be alright

I know one day
We'll see the other side
The pain'll wash away
In a holy water tide
And we all gonna be alright

Sometimes we’re not ok.

Bob remarks after pondering these lyrics and in the way that only Bob can, “You know they’re modern day prophets and pastors..” Yes, and they’re asking profound, existential questions about the meaning of life and giving place and words for turmoil and grief.

No, not in every single song, and no, this music doesn’t replace worship. But, these musicians are all created in the image of God. The questions they ask, their longing to be understood or to understand, their disappointments and losses often put into words and sets to music the core longings that we all have—woven into our very being, longings put there by God..

“Jesus is Real” as Bob observes in another of his profound moments. Indeed.

We are often reminded that God is going to make sure the gospel story is told in every nook and cranny of his crazy created world. Watch with me and listen.

There you have it…extempore.