Head over to Coldplay.com and download a preview track from their upcoming album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, for free. (They send you a link through e-mail. It might take a few hours.) The song is called 'Violet Hill,' and it's not bad.
I spent the majority of my Saturday tending to my lawn. While I was mowing, I saw the dad who lives across the street play basketball with his two young sons. He and his family are wealthy, and they pay people to tend to their pretty lawn.
Then this thought crept into my mind: There comes a time, maybe a moment, maybe many moments, when a man decides whether he wants to be a man who mows his own lawn or pays someone to do it for him. Women must decide which of these men they want to partner with.
Maybe that's too broad and untrue, but I believe it.
Thrice - The Whaler
My lover's arms, they beg me to stay. But I know the storms, they will sweep me away.
My daughter's eyes, they are two tiny seas, whose water will rise and then run down her cheeks.
"Father where do you go, so far out upon the sea, when are you coming home to me?" "Darling why do you leave, as the north wind begins to blow? Will you be coming home to me?"
The boat and the blade, they are all that I know; the sea calls my name, and so I must go.
And while they still sleep, I slip out through the door; but how can I leave, with my anchors ashore?
"Father where do you go? It's farther than I can see, when are you coming home to me?" "Darling why do you leave, as the north wind begins to blow? Will you be coming home to me?"
Daedalus- "mythical Greek architect and sculptor, who was said to have built, among other things, the paradigmatic Labyrinth for King Minos of Crete. Daedalus fell out of favour with Minos and was imprisoned; he fashioned wings of wax and feathers for himself and for his son Icarus and escaped to Sicily. Icarus, however, flew too near the Sun, and his wings melted; he fell into the sea and drowned."
I stand on the cliffs with my son next to me This island our prison, our home And everyday we look out at the sea This place is all he's ever known
But I've got a plan and some wax and some string; Some feathers I stole from the birds And we leap from the cliff and we hear the wind sing A song that's too perfect for words
But son, please keep a steady wing And know you're the only one that means anything to me Steer clear of the sun, or you'll find yourself in the sea
Now safely away, I let out a cry "We'll make the mainland by noon" But Icarus climbs higher still in the sky Maybe I've spoken too soon
Oh son, please keep a steady wing Know you're the only one that means anything to me Steer clear of the sun, or you'll find yourself in the sea
Won't you look at your wings They're coming undone They're splitting at the seams Steer clear of the sun; for once won't you listen to me?
Oh, Gods! Why is this happening to me? All I wanted was a new life, for my son to grow up free Now you took the only thing that meant anything to me I will never fly again, I will hang up my wings
Oh, Gods! Why is this happening to me? All I wanted was a new life, for my son to grow up free Now you took the only thing that meant anything to me I will never fly again, I will hang up my wings
In this dark night We stand or we fall. We are kings now, or nothing at all. Check your armor; light up your torch. Touch the flame to the sail before you head for the shore.
And we will burn the fleet, we can never go home; it's on to victory or under ground. Burn the fleet, we'll be heroes or ghosts, but we won't be turned around.
The old flag will burn with the sail, and a new one won't fly if we fail. But the fire continues to rise, and it shows not a hint of any fear in our eyes.
And we will burn the fleet, we can never go home; it's on to victory or under ground. Burn the fleet, we'll be heroes or ghosts, but we won't be turned around.
And we will burn the fleet, we can never go home; it's on to victory or under ground. Burn the fleet, we'll be heroes or ghosts, but we won't be turned around.
From tender years you took me for granted, But still I deigned to wander through your lungs. While you were sleeping soundly in your bed, Your drapes were silver wings, your shutters flung I drew the poison from the summer's sting, And eased the fire out of your fevered skin. I moved in you and stirred your soul to sing; And if you'd let me I would move again. I've danced 'tween sunlit strands of lover's hair; Helped form the final words before your death. I've pitied you and plied your sails with air; Gave blessing when you rose upon my breath.
And after all off this I am amazed, That I am cursed far more than I am praised.
Before a few weeks ago, I only knew Zooey Deschanel as an actress who starred in Elf, among other works, and who was a bit of a singer on the side. I liked her because of her role in Elf, but I didn't know or see enough of her to really, really like her the way I dig Natalie Portman. Oh, but that's another tale of unrequited love for another day.
Back to Zooey.
So, about a month ago I read about a new musical duo called She & Him. Zooey is the lead singer (as well as the piano and banjo player), while M. Ward handles the guitars and production. I listened to some of M. Ward's stuff before, and I liked it. I also liked what I knew of Zooey, and was very interested to hear her sing. Their debut album, Volume One, got pretty good reviews, so I decided to take a listen.
I really liked what I heard. Their music spans the oldies, country, and indie genres pretty well. And Zooey's vocals? She manages to sound like three different people in one album, but her voice is stupendous.
Needless to say, after listening to the album once, I finally fell for Zooey Deschanel.
I listened to the album over and over and over again, and I looked at as many photos of her as possible (with the purest of intentions). She became beautiful to me!
This got me to thinking: why did it take listening to her sing for me to fall for this girl?
Then I thought of this:
Taste and see that the LORD is good... - Psalm 34:8
It's one thing to know things about someone. Before listening to She & Him, I saw that Zooey was a decent actress, a lovely lady, and knew that she was a singer, but those separate pieces of experience and knowledge alone did not tip me over to her. But once I finally experienced her singing, the trifecta was complete. I finally tasted and saw that Zooey was, indeed, good...at acting, looking pretty, and singing, and that was enough for me to truly admire her.
Many Christians have personally experienced some attributes of God. Some have experienced his goodness, while others his power, and still others his holiness. But I think that the majority of Christians know more about God than they have actually tasted of him.
What I mean is this: there may be many who have read, heard, and known that God is almighty, but have they really experienced it? The same goes for his provision, love, comfort...
Christians must always be concerned with making that jump, from knowing to actually seeing and tasting. This may require more deliberate surrendering, risk-taking, and humility, but whatever it may cost, there is no doubt that this endeavor is well worth it.
There is no verse saying, "Know that the LORD is good" in the Bible, and I think there's a very good reason for that.
If your friend told you about a pretty girl/guy that they have fallen for, wouldn't you want to actually see her/him? If your friend told you all about a great movie that they saw recently, doesn't that spark an interest in you to see it? If your friend told you about a really good restaurant, wouldn't you want to go and see for yourself? Then why are we so satisfied with just hearing and reading about God, the one we love? Why do we stop there and so often dig in our heels when an opportunity to actually taste comes along? Are our desires so easily placated?
While it may sound peaceful, Psalm 34:8 should be an aggressive challenge for many of us.
The beauty of this is that there is no end. While God's attributes cannot all be sufficiently tasted within a lifetime, Christians have the full assurance that they will have plenty of occasions to taste and see him in his fullest glory, for eternity.
And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour. - 2 Samuel 6:22 (KJV)
