I am searching. Yes, still searching for the answer to why do I feel compelled to blog. I am a lover of words. I think that is the simple answer. I do love words. I have now posted enough to show I am not great with words, and my use of correct grammar is even worse. My love for words is a funny thing really. I use a lot of words, but I am not good with them. So why blog? Why subject others to my shortcoming? It is because I am a communicator. Not only do I love words, but I love to communicate with others. I like to know what others think on a topic. I love to learn something new and share it with others. We live in an age of unlimited means of communication. We are surrounded by words constantly. But, what is the value of what is being said? What is the value of what is being written? Why am I and others sharing our words?
One of my favorite things to do is to google song lyrics and their meaning. I've learned to take what I learn, use it and apply it to what is going on around me. Music is my modern day poetry. Lyrics can be one of the best uses of words. Lyrical words can pack a whole lot of meaning into verses you remember because it is set to music. I have songs that stick with me and influence what and how I think. I listen to them over and over in an attempt to grasp their meaning. In my now five blog posts, three have dealt with songs I love. This post is no different.
A few weeks ago, a dear friend of mine (who is also a seasoned blogger) tackled the issue of girls and their (at times) apparent lack of modesty in their appearance across messaging and social media. Whoa!! was a fire ignited!!! And to be honest, it struck a nerve with me. It wasn't that I disagreed so much as that I thought the real root of the issue went unaddressed. I sat back and watched as plenty of folks had lots to say about her post. The overall reaction and my personal feelings is really what convinced me to blog. And it has taken me this long to be brave enough to post my own thoughts on the topic.
I will try to explain my feelings with song lyrics. The Avett Brothers are a current favorite. They have been for years!! Their song Ill with Want is what came to mind as I watched the fire storm. For me the problem is bigger than lack of modesty. It does not stop with modesty in appearance. The easiest way for me to illustrate my point is to share discussions I have had with my own children on what they post on social media. We have all been guilty (self included) of posting pics of something new. We leave a store, and we are not far down the road before we hear "the click". And I know whatever was just purchased has been posted. I have said, "don't post that!!" And of course the response is "why not?". My belief is we are ill with want!! We live in a world that screams "LOOK AT ME!" We have selfie Sunday for crying out loud! We want others to see us, what we have and what we do. The chorus of the Avett's song goes like this:
One of my favorite things to do is to google song lyrics and their meaning. I've learned to take what I learn, use it and apply it to what is going on around me. Music is my modern day poetry. Lyrics can be one of the best uses of words. Lyrical words can pack a whole lot of meaning into verses you remember because it is set to music. I have songs that stick with me and influence what and how I think. I listen to them over and over in an attempt to grasp their meaning. In my now five blog posts, three have dealt with songs I love. This post is no different.
A few weeks ago, a dear friend of mine (who is also a seasoned blogger) tackled the issue of girls and their (at times) apparent lack of modesty in their appearance across messaging and social media. Whoa!! was a fire ignited!!! And to be honest, it struck a nerve with me. It wasn't that I disagreed so much as that I thought the real root of the issue went unaddressed. I sat back and watched as plenty of folks had lots to say about her post. The overall reaction and my personal feelings is really what convinced me to blog. And it has taken me this long to be brave enough to post my own thoughts on the topic.
I will try to explain my feelings with song lyrics. The Avett Brothers are a current favorite. They have been for years!! Their song Ill with Want is what came to mind as I watched the fire storm. For me the problem is bigger than lack of modesty. It does not stop with modesty in appearance. The easiest way for me to illustrate my point is to share discussions I have had with my own children on what they post on social media. We have all been guilty (self included) of posting pics of something new. We leave a store, and we are not far down the road before we hear "the click". And I know whatever was just purchased has been posted. I have said, "don't post that!!" And of course the response is "why not?". My belief is we are ill with want!! We live in a world that screams "LOOK AT ME!" We have selfie Sunday for crying out loud! We want others to see us, what we have and what we do. The chorus of the Avett's song goes like this:
Something has me, oh something has me
Acting like someone I don't wanna be
Something has me, oh something has me
Acting like someone I know isn't me
Ill with want and poisoned by this ugly greed
Acting like someone I don't wanna be
Something has me, oh something has me
Acting like someone I know isn't me
Ill with want and poisoned by this ugly greed
The next verse is my favorite!! It goes like this:
Temporary is my time, ain't nothing on this world that's mine
Except the will I found to carry on
Free is not your right to choose
It's answering what's asked of you
To give the love you find until it's gone
Except the will I found to carry on
Free is not your right to choose
It's answering what's asked of you
To give the love you find until it's gone
There is a huge idea packed in that small little verse. I read a comment online that referenced Galatians 5:13 in relation to the lyrics. "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love." (NIV) The Message translates like this, "It is absolutely clear that God called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out- in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?" (5:13-15)
So yeah, this lover of words is ill with want, but I am working on it. And I will continue to challenge my children to work on it as well. We will be asking ourselves as we posts our pics, "what has got me? Has it got me acting like someone I don't wanna be? How are we using this free life we have been given"? We have to remember that all our worldly stuff (including our looks) will pass away. It is of this world! It is OK to love yourself, but you have to look past the "ME" and love others! In doing so we are truly free!!! Happy 4th of July y'all!!
So yeah, this lover of words is ill with want, but I am working on it. And I will continue to challenge my children to work on it as well. We will be asking ourselves as we posts our pics, "what has got me? Has it got me acting like someone I don't wanna be? How are we using this free life we have been given"? We have to remember that all our worldly stuff (including our looks) will pass away. It is of this world! It is OK to love yourself, but you have to look past the "ME" and love others! In doing so we are truly free!!! Happy 4th of July y'all!!