Thursday, December 30, 2010

Time flies on wings of lightning

I was browsing the top 100 albums at Amazon yesterday and came across The Band Perry. They've got a song with a gorgeous melody, however, I have wondered about the message it's trying to convey. What does "If I Die Young" really mean?

The tune itself is rich and flows easily. The vocals are outstanding, and I love the arrangement. It's just the lyrics. So, I turned to a source of many of today's answers: google. It turns out, a lot of other people wondered the same thing I did. Is this song about suicide?

I tried to find out what the band themselves had to say about it. (They wrote it). I couldn't find anything on their website or otherwise.

We never know when this life might end. Some have goodly, old lives watching their grandbabies, and even great grandbabies, grow up. Others are taken in infancy. One message this song may be sending is that we should enjoy each day, and love those around us, because we never know when that last day will be.

At some point or other I think it's only natural to ponder life, its duration. Mortality is such a fleeting thing, "...time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream" Jacob 7:26. I think it's true that "Time flies on wings of lightning".

It is an especially tender subject when we lose someone we love.

Sometimes we are faced with situations or events that seemingly lend themselves to impossible solutions. We can't find a way out, and may be tempted into thinking that the only true way to free ourselves is to leave this mortal life behind. This life is a time for us to prepare to meet God, and flippantly severing our gift of mortality in a moment of sorrow leaves only devastation for those left behind and uncertainty for the future. I think that one of the reasons the Lord arranged the necessity of sleep is because when we awake the next day it gives us perspective on the events of the days before. Sometimes we need to take a step back and separate ourselves from the situation in order to gain clarity. Suicide may be thought about and planned for years, but in its finality its consequences are eternal. Satan would have us believe there is no other way out. When we feel like we have no other options we can be sure that it is one of his evil snares. I know that through obedience to God's commandments we can find peace in this life, joy and rejoicing. Jesus Christ came down to this earth to atone for our sins, and only He can cleanse us from feelings of dispair.

This song really got me thinking. The topic of suicide is such a tender one. Two of our young, sweet neighbors ended their lives this way. I have known others that also chose this path, and I have seen the absolute devastation it brought their families. Sometimes these choices affect generations to come, with loved ones following the example set years before.

Many of us have wondered if those around us care. We may be hurt by the actions of others or by events beyond our control. "Wouldn't they be sorry if I were to die?" Perhaps they would reconsider their actions and how they had treated us if something were to befall us. But why should we feel like we have to control the consequences of other's actions against us? Thank heavens we can leave these things in the hands of God. He has numbered our days. He knows us perfectly and loves us perfectly regardless of who we are. We can change only ourselves, and sometimes we have to start by changing our perspectives.

Sometimes when something appeals to us we try to imagine that it's not what it really is. How expertly the devil wraps his vicious traps in the prettiest paper and adorns them with cloaks of splendor. So, regardless of what people may say the song means, I know I don't want my daughters listening to it and wondering.

This beautiful tune, misinterpreted or not, may be the last song some of their fans ever hear.

Let us rejoice in this beautiful life and be grateful for each moment we have. Let's get out there and bless others and love those around us!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

And then...

I was just reflecting over the year. There were a lot of blog-able things that should be mentioned:

First of all, Mr. A.H. was sprayed with a fire hose on the 4th of July. You should have seen his face! (He was in a tug-o-war game celebrating the independence of our country). Coincidentally, Nina and Ls were also sprayed, but had much less reactionary reactions.

Actually, that event was so memorable I can't recall what else should be mentioned.