Song of the week #1
“Be Here Now” by Ray LaMontagne
I’ve been feeling really connected to my personal calling here on Earth lately. I chose this song because of how it has helped me feel close to that calling as well as for some mindfulness principles that it contains (we could all use a little bit of that, haha).
Personal Experiences around this song:
1. When I first lived in Logan, I would occasionally go for runs in the snow. I do this because I love running and the feeling of freedom that it gives me (once I get past the 2nd mile and no longer feel like puking). I remember a few distinct times that I chose to add this song to my running playlist. I typically choose a couple of songs to listen to for a portion of the run and then enjoy the rest in silence. It might not make a ton of sense for those of you who blast metal, rap, or house while exercising because of energy, but for me this song enhanced my connection to what I was experiencing in the moment of running as well as the broader scope of my life. At times the words feel like they are being whispered from God, a loving Father.
On one night in particular, I remember feeling the snow gently falling to the ground. There was fresh powder that already laid there and I was first to place my feet upon it. The crisp crunch was refreshing with every step and somewhat invigorating. The world felt silent outside of that sound. The snow was powder and created an absorbing acoustic in the environment that seemed to muffle everything around me. I ran in the orange glow of streetlights with a sky above me that felt like a purple brown instead of a black or dark blue. It was heavy and hung low, as though within my grasp.
“Be Here Now” made time stand still for me that night. I hear this song and I go back and live in that moment.
A sidewalk in my route for running
2. I’ve been missing my family in Logan and thinking about them recently. This past weekend I asked my Brother-In-Law, Tyler, if he would pick me up in a town 2 hours away from him so I could come visit for the weekend. Chelsea (my wife) was out of town with the car but I felt a strong pull to go down and visit him, my sister and their girls. At first, I felt ashamed to ask for him to make such a “pointless” sacrifice. I kept thinking to myself busily, “You should just stay here and work all weekend and get stuff done. But the strong pull lingered and I decided that I would attempt to overcome my shame and ask for his help. He came up Friday evening, picked me up and we turned around and headed back.
During the drive we discussed how he and I both have been feeling waves of hope and peace to anxiety and frustration when it comes to working on Love Strong. We’ve had small miracles take place at every turn. We’ve felt close to God as we have pursued our passions and made choices to listen to His call. Each wave of discussionn brought me the reminder of how good life truly is. God helped me to take a step back and remember a little bit about why we are even here. I came here to connect and share love, not to work all weekend (though sometimes that might be needed).
Near the end of the ride, we took a moment to listen to “Be Here Now”. We silently absorbed the words and basked in the feelings of the car ride being summed up into a precious song.
The weekend ended up being jammed packed full of golden moments with Tyler, my sister – Rhiannon, and many of my nieces and nephews. I’m glad and grateful that God reminded me to “Be Here Now”.
Go out and have an experience with this song! Set aside some time, bask in a moment of stillness, and let us know what you felt.