A Song Can Takes Us Places

What’s your favorite Christmas song of all time?

I mean, if you could only pick one, what would it be?

My wife’s Grammy, who died in my arms at age 93, always said Little Drummer Boy was her favorite. She went to Heaven in September 1989.

It never occurred to me back then to ask her why. Why would it have occurred to me?

Well, all these years later, “Why?” is a fun and purposeful question.

Why do you enjoy your favorite Christmas song? For no reason? Or, for some special or purposeful reason.

Hey, I realize some of you may say, “Jeff, not everything has to have a purpose.”

Right.  And this is the fundamental difference between those that drift through life and those that make a difference.

I enjoy listening to “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” as much as anyone. It’s funny, unexpected, and way not serious.

But Little Drummer Boy is not only Grammy’s favorite, but mine as well. Why? because I Look for little ways to help our son understand his family’s history.

His Grandfather, Jack (not the bear), my Dad, was a drummer. He started playing drums from the moment he could hold drumsticks in his hands.

He hitch-hiked 100 miles to Philadelphia, from his row-home in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania, just so he could take drum lessons from a particularly talented drummer.

He played drums in the Army band while stationed in Japan, during the Korean War.

He taught 30-minute drum lessons Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 4:00pm – 8:00pm, year round.

He played gigs on Friday and Saturday nights, year round.

As a young man, he had business cards printed. His title – “Drummer”.

From one stupid little Christmas song, a piece of our son’s family history is told, year after year.

But only if I put some thought into it.

And at Christmas, as it is all year round, it’s the thought that counts.

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Joy

Audacious.  Authentic.  Audacious authenticity. How’s that work for you? It works really well on my end.

As a goal, I mean – audacious authenticity.  Being boldly authentic. Not conforming to status quo, but rather, conforming to faith, hope and love.

Heard the song the other day by Kirk Franklin, or maybe it was Mary Mary, with a line that goes, “Can’t take my joy devil.”

That’s it, that was the right message at the right time.

In our lifetimes we probably listen to many types of music: Rock, Rap, Country, Jazz, Reggae, Pop, Classical, Christian, Oldies, Soul, R&B, etc.

Rock & Roll has always been my favorite. And then, while living out West, Country became a new love.

But today, hands down, without a doubt, Contemporary Christian is what sustains me.

To all the great folks at Central Florida’s Contemporary Christian radio station, Z88.3, or the Z, as some call it, thank you for what you do to help God’s people when they need it.

And just speaking for myself, this is every single day.  Thank you.

PS.  Click here to listen on your computer.  The Z is currently playing 24-hour Christmas music.

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Thinking, as in deep thinking.  Self-reflection thinking.  Contemplation. Self-examination.  Questioning.

Challenging thinking.  Painful thinking.  Honest thinking. Uncomfortable thinking.

Spiritual thinking.  Which, if we are lucky, will lead to prayer – and conversations with God.

Doing this, the difficult thinking, will actually lead to learning something twice.  But the second time around, we come to understand it and not just know it.

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Nine!  Wow!

Last night at dinner in Indiana, my client asked me to describe our son, but only using one-word descriptors.

I wish the one-words would have rolled off my tongue.  As I thought about it, words came to mind:

• Honest
• Techie
• Compassionate
• Brave
• Smart
• Athletic
• Strong
• Healthy
• Spiritual
• Helpful
• Friendly
• Nice
• Courteous
• Courageous
• Funny
• Understanding

Long ago, I asked our son a question, “If I lined up all the boys in the entire world, know which one would be my favorite”?

He thought for a a few moments, “Me”?

“Yes”!

Now when I ask him, I get to about the fourth word in the question and he exclaims in no uncertain terms, “Me”!

Ba-da-ba-ba-ba, I’m luvin’ it!  Carpe diem, jeff noel

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