The Spirituality of Songwriting

Songwriting is spiritual because it is an act of faith. You start with a blank page, a silent guitar, and a full heart. A miracle happens when you dare strum the first chord, or strike the first key. It’s like yanking a rope that opens a curtain on a scene that has only been waiting for an appreciative musically deprived audience. Someone will NEED this song. A melody comes singing through your imagination and words whisper from someplace beyond yourself and suddenly you realize that you have made a connection with some universal reality come to answer the world’s broken heart.

Unless it doesn’t happen that way.

Songwriting is spiritual because you answer the call to do it even on the days when you feel nothing. The chords are all used up, the melodies cliché, and the lyrics have had all the life siphoned out of them by the stresses and distractions of life. Some days, I use one page of my legal pad, and other days I master trashcan hoop shooting rather than the song. But persistence always pays off and some of my best songs have happened on my worst days. I’ve developed the fine art of staring into space.

Songwriting is co-creating with the Divine.

Songwriting is a discipline.

The hardest part is getting started. Emptiness and the pressure to create are formidable foes, especially if you’re working on a deadline. You pace, you go walking, you read another book, you get on-line and use up precious writing on shallow e-words. You listen to CDs and feel intimidated by them. You listen to the other songs you’ve written that EVERYONE loved, and feel even more intimidated. You listen to the songs you’ve written that made money, and quit for the day.

Next day. You’ve mysteriously awakened with an idea burning a hole in you. You begin to write. Amazing. This is SO easy and natural. I can do this. Until you get to the last line of the second verse. It’s like a resistant force has blocked it from view, deleted it from the incoming messages. Now, the hardest part is finishing.

Want some advice? If you have trouble getting started, just start getting some words onto the page. Journal for a little bit to see if an idea emerges, or go back to your title book and pick a title, even if it’s not wowing you. (You DO have a title book, don’t you?) Settle on a title and write words that associate. The thing is, since every song is a gift, as you write, or play, you unblock whatever is jamming up the lines of communication.

Another thing you can do is - nothing. Let it go. My friend James Spruill says, “When you don’t know what to do, don’t.” This works especially well if you have trouble finishing. Step away from the idea and tell yourself it will come when it’s time. It will sneak off into your subconscious and then one day, at the most inopportune time, it will sneak back up on you and you’ll wonder why you couldn’t have thought of something so obvious sooner.

You will never run out of songs to write if you expect them to be there. Seek and you will find; ask and it will be given to you. A writer is always paying attention, because she knows the ideas are flowing around us everywhere all the time. In an empty room or on a crowded street, in a cathedral or in a bar, in good times and bad, there is always a song. Search for it. Knock and it will be revealed to you.

Book Exchange

Do you like devotional books? Do you know what they are? It's a valid question. I met a northerner once who had never heard of having private devotions. Perhaps southern humidity lends itself to greater need.

I keep a Bible, a journal, a pencil, and a few devotional books by my bed...oh, and sometimes a guitar. I like musical prayer.  I always have the Bible on top of the stack, out of respect. It's a tradition where I'm from, like using capital letters for any pronoun representing G-D.  I guess that would make them proper pronouns? It's not so common these days, but at least the men still take off their ball caps during prayer, for the most part.

I do devotions first thing when I wake up, right after dream analysis. I read a Psalm, a chapter from the Gospels, and then I meander around the mysterious and controversial, oft considered obsolete pages searching for some hope for today. Before Facebook asks me what's on my mind, God asks me what's on my heart.

I like the devotional books with short readings. Oswald Chambers tops my list. "My Utmost for His Highest." What a great word, "utmost".  It's cool because no one uses it anymore, kind of like "oft." I have another one called "31 Days of Praise" and its companion book "31 Days of Prayer." I also use Dr. Rick Hanson's book for inspiration, "Just One Thing." Mental health with a compassionate twist. And then there's a great one called "Letting Go" from the author of Co-dependant No More. Co-dependancy is not the trendy word it once was, but the book is still helpful.

Some days I pause for devotions throughout the day. It really helps. Five or ten minutes of positive reinforcement.

Do you do devotions? Do you have favorites that set your attention in an encouraging direction for the day? I'm collecting titles.

Forgot to mention Max Lucado, Frederick Buechner, Thomas Merton, and Barbara Brown Taylor.

I value your comments!
xo,
Kim

Risky Business

Sadly, I debated with myself about posting this blog. It seems risky. Will I be perceived as pro-Chick-fil-a or against Chick-fil-a (assuming you know about the recent hoopla over Chick-fil-a versus the homosexuals). I have many Christian friends, some pro some con and some simply understanding when it comes to the gay issue. Some want them kicked out of church, some want them cured and taught better, some are simply tolerant, and a few Christians, I've heard, believe that God sanctions loving, monogamous, gay couples. I am glad to say that I no longer associate with anyone who would like them stoned. All homo-debate aside, it is risky business to lift scriptures out, isolate them, and promote things Jesus taught against, i.e. hatred, prejudice, cruelty. Jesus' message is kindness, grace, understanding, and above all, love. So is Paul's. The greater point I find in this article is not about gays, but about how scripture is used, or abused. Maybe its the scripture that's risky. I'm reading Deuteronomy right now, and more than once Moses has told the people that God told him to tell them to kill every foreigner, women and children included, if they continued to serve false gods. How is this not a kill the infidel plan? It rattles me. I'm against war and death. Jesus, however, disagreed with his own Torah. He said, "You've heard it said an eye for an eye, a life for a life, but I'm telling you a new thing - love your enemies." (Matthew 5:38-48). He was quoting and disagreeing with Deuteronomy, by the way. Of course, Dr. Laura speaks from her Jewish perspective, and I am speaking from my Christian one. Any respectable protestant Christian would cross-reference the New Testament, right? So, the reason I say it is sad that I debated posting this, is my fear that many in my devout Christian community, a community that I truly love, will not allow honest open-minded dialogue on this topic. It saddens me that a community that teaches me about Christ's love, often slams the door shut without really thinking things through. Wherever you stand on the issue of homosexuality, I hope you appreciate the humor in this piece, and the real point, that we need to be careful how we throw around scripture like a grenade. Here's the article: In her radio show, Dr Laura Schlesinger said that, as an observant. Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance.  The following response is an open letter to Dr. Laura, written by a US man, and posted on the Internet. It's funny, as well as informative: Dear Dr. Laura, Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can.  When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination ... End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.  1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both maleand female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations.  A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadian?  2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctionedin Exodus 21:7.  In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?  3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she isin her period of Menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15: 19-24.  The problem is how do I tell?  I have tried asking, but most women take offense. 4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9.  The problem is my neighbors.  They claim the odor is not pleasing to them.  Should I smite them?  5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death.  Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it? 6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination, Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality.  I don't agree.  Can you settle this?  Are there 'degrees' of abomination? 7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight.  I have to admit that I wear reading glasses.  Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here? 8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27.  How should they die? 9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves? 10. My uncle has a farm.  He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend).  He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot.  Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14) I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I'm confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging. Your adoring fan. James M. Kauffman, Ed.D. Professor Emeritus, Dept. Of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education University of Virginia PS (It would be a damn shame if we couldn't own a Canadian)

Da Vinci DiVersity

     When did the world get so hung up on the word “specialist?” I understand the merit of focus, but the idea that a person can only do one thing with expertise is malarkey. The Renaissance man or woman is out of vogue. Leonardo Da Vinci, where’d you go? He is best known as one of the greatest artists of all time, but he was also an architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer (map maker), and writer. He’d never make it today, would he? Some lazybones executive would tell him he couldn’t possibly be good at all of those things, that he would be viewed as a jack of all trades and master of none. And Da Vinci would, in turn, call them a jack of something, too, and go about his multifaceted business.

     But these days we get talked into micro-dreams. You get this one thing. Master it. Be the best at it; but, of course, once you reach the “best” status, the criteria will change, and the next true genius will walk in and rightfully take your place. It is not, however, the artists vying for positions, it is industry insisting that there can only be one winner.

     The truth is that if we all shine our brightest, all those candle’s flames will light up the world.

     Don’t get me wrong. I believe in the importance of mastery, and I know the time and concentration it takes. My “thing” has been songwriting. I live it, eat it, drink it, dream it. I read everything I can that will make me better. When I study theology, I think of how it will translate into song. When I study psychology, I think of the next insight that will sing into a line and help someone’s heart. When I study science I think about the mystery of melody and the interaction of harmonic notes and how the sonic soul of the universe is in tune to mine. All roads have led to, and stemmed from songwriting for me. I sing because I write. I produce because I write. I eat because I write.

     “Mastery,” wrote Daniel Pink, “is a mindset: It requires the capacity to see your abilities not as finite, but as infinitely improvable. Mastery is a pain: It demands effort, grit, and deliberate practice. And mastery is an asymptote: It’s impossible to fully realize, which makes it simultaneously frustrating and alluring.” (from his book Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us)

     I get that. He’s right. It’s the journey that I love, and if I ever “arrive” I think I’ll die.

     And so I practice, and learn, and grow, and know that I will never be “the best,” but I will work as though I can be. I want to be MY best. I want to be God’s best for me. No limitations. And so the day has finally come when God’s best calls me to broaden my horizons.

     When I die, I imagine the thing they’ll say about me is that I was a songwriter, and hopefully it will be that my songs touched lives and expressed something of the soul of God and humanity. (As opposed to “award winning songwriter”) But I do hope that the speaking I do, the Bible lessons I teach, the books I write, the broadcasting I do, the performances I give, and the hands I have held in prayer because someone was hurting, will be in the color scheme of the portrait of me.

     So, I’m curious – did you take a moment to look up the word “asymptote?” Here, I’ll save you the time: “ASYMPTOTE: a line that continually approaches a given curve but does not meet it at any finite distance.”  (Webster’s)  It’s the dangling carrot you are compelled to grasp but never can.  Ain’t life grand?!

     Write on!!

Old Rugged Hymns

I’m hearing a lot of talk lately about the theological integrity of worship lyrics. It’s a reasonable concern. Many churches are complete with songwriters who provide original material specific to the church’s worship and theological needs. Just think of the possibilities. Just think about all the money that will be saved. Who needs the music industry, anyway?

It’s a little scary, though, don’t you think? I mean, for all the foibles and flaws of the business, it provides a good training ground for writers to learn the craft. Unfortunately, industry standards are, indeed, more about the craft than the theology. Craft. Let’s see. That can be code for “Will radio love it?” Nothing wrong with a little commercial appeal. No more of those old stodgy hymns like The Old Rugged Cross that go on for ten minutes.

Have you sung all the stanzas to The Old Rugged Cross lately? It tells quite a story. It’s not easy to get that much information into the few lines and short phrases of a worship tune. You can’t, really. What to do, what to do? I wish we could keep writing traditional sounding hymns for the church to keep the format alive and fresh, (instead of merely changing the tunes and forcing the old hymns into new molds), but the money would be an issue. If you can’t play it on radio, how will it go mainstream for all the churches to sing? The delivery system and flow of money disintegrates. Let’s write them anyway, along with the worship songs.

Getting back to the songwriting worship team trend, maybe this is a good thing. Creative forces are exploding everywhere. What if writers write for the church instead of for the publishers? Of course, I thought that was what I was doing, or more specifically, I thought I was writing for the Lord, and my publisher was simply a stepping-stone on the way to the people, the aggregator and collector of the material and the money, a necessary facilitator. I always assumed that Christian publishers were, hopefully, called to what they do, concerned about the message first, the money second. I’ve always been a little naïve.

Still the question lingers: where’s the accountability? Without a publisher acting as editor to critique and guide, without a standard raised by the pros at every corner of the professional music maze, how will we have quality and theology control?

On the other hand, change is good. It’s the fertile ground of creativity. In some sense, change IS creativity. New. Exciting if you let it be. We may be uncomfortable for a season, but it will all shake out okay.

It’s not exactly new for God to shake things up. I am reminded of Hebrews 12:27-29 where it speaks of the “removal of things that are shaken” so that “the things that cannot be shaken may remain.” He says, “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” Whatever may happen, the good news message of God’s unfailing love is not going away, and neither is music. So, we’ll work it out. What a beautiful creative playground, all these songwriting worship leaders everywhere. We may just have to trust the Spirit to lead, again.