It was me and my umbrella against the world today.
In a dress and sandals, which were totally not appropriate for blistering rains in downtown Chicago, I found myself facing the wind, umbrella in hand, pushing down State St to the Chicago Library. I was applying for my visitor’s visa to South Africa (where my husband is from, I’ve never been) and apparently my flight reservation printout didn’t have enough details.
I had been directed to reprint this info at the library, but it was such an ordeal for me. I’ve never been here before, so where are the computers? I don’t have a library card, how can I print this off? My guest number you gave me is not working! Okay this is 60 cents, do you take card? No? Oh no, I don’t carry cash!
I felt disheartened yet relieved when the library clerk paid for my measly printing fee. This was ridiculous – all these tedious procedures just to visit South Africa. Just to be in this country for under 3 weeks to see family and tour. I am from New Zealand, and this visa was waived until 2 years ago, for governmental in-fighting reasons. This should not be necessary, and yet here I am.
Walking back, I was frustrated. My feet were soaking wet, it had almost been 2 hours, I was hungry, and I felt incredibly displaced: arguing for my right to visit a foreign country, while in another foreign country! I have no belonging here, nor there, and I have to fight to feel welcomed and accepted. I found myself despairing over a lack of settlement, a lack of feeling at home, of feeling loved.
And then Scripture popped into my head – through a song.
I sought the Lord, he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
Psalm 34:4
Now this is where my rather sad story turns into a plug for my friend, Brenden Greene. He released his first EP, Psalms, this week, and has encapsulated the truth of pure Scripture in catchy and beautiful sounds. He recites each Psalm (34, 46, 51, & 62) almost exactly to the text, and it is a refreshing thing to behold.
Photo by Serena Nottingham
Today, God used his song to recite Scripture in my head exactly when I needed to hear it. It gave me perspective, gave me peace, and a hope for a future. Even as the rain poured on me on the dirty streets of Chicago.
As this earworm continued to grow, this refrain of Psalm 34 repeating constantly over and over in my head, something changed in my spirit: I knew everything was going to be alright. For when you seek the Lord, He will answer, and He will deliver me from all my fears. What an amazing and aptly timed truth to be suddenly circulating in my mind!
Music has the amazing power of staying in our heads, (and popping up when you least expect it) and this is exactly why you should listen to Brenden Greene new EP: he stuck purely to Scripture and is proclaiming it with music. And what can be better than to have God’s very Word stuck in your head?
You can listen to Brenden’s EP here. Spread the word, and maybe be inspired to do the same thing.
We all know the world needs more of God in their ears.
I, at least, needed it today.
The Ministry of Music 