"T-Swift? As in Taylor Swift?" you may be asking yourself. "Really, Rachel? A blog post about Taylor Swift? A blog post about Taylor Swift in your Belgium Track & Field mission trip blog?"
I have a point, I promise.
All my life, the Lord has spoken to me through songs and hymns. I grew up not having a solid example of what a personal relationship with Christ looked like, let alone meant. But, the Lord is faithful and pursued me until He placed me at Miami University (OH) where I at last found Biblical community. Until that point, our relationship looked very different to most - He met me not only in my reading of Scripture, but also through old hymns. I learned to pray by memorizing old school hymns - "Amazing Grace", "How Sweet the Father's Love for Us", and my favorite, "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing". While I am not musically gifted (I make a joyful noise to the Lord when I worship, not a sound, melody, or harmony. Noise.), I do appreciate music and have a special place for it in my heart.
Right about the time spring had sprung in my life, I purchased Taylor Swift's most recent album, "Red". It's good, fun, catchy, dance-party-while-you-cook music. Kind of angry break-up music, but with some humor to help cut the sting. To sum up, absolutely not grounded in Truth. And, for someone who has never been in a relationship, not the first album that you would think that the Lord would use in my life. But God is funny like that and has used her album to walk me into spring. But the Lord has used every single song on that album to walk with me through the healing and processing of winter. All Truth is God's truth, even the tiny pieces buried in pop-country albums.
As the wounds and scars of winter fade, so has "Red" from the top of my "Most Recently Played" list. Then the roster for Belgium began to settle and introductions were made via email. One of the get-to-know-you questions was about favorite music, and Taylor Swift kept coming up. I just had to laugh. Of course she would. Because the Lord is good and faithful, meeting my sentimental little heart everywhere I go. It would seem that my springtime soundtrack will be overflowing into summer.
"But on a Wednesday in a cafe, I watch it begin again..." - T. Swift
I have a point, I promise.
All my life, the Lord has spoken to me through songs and hymns. I grew up not having a solid example of what a personal relationship with Christ looked like, let alone meant. But, the Lord is faithful and pursued me until He placed me at Miami University (OH) where I at last found Biblical community. Until that point, our relationship looked very different to most - He met me not only in my reading of Scripture, but also through old hymns. I learned to pray by memorizing old school hymns - "Amazing Grace", "How Sweet the Father's Love for Us", and my favorite, "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing". While I am not musically gifted (I make a joyful noise to the Lord when I worship, not a sound, melody, or harmony. Noise.), I do appreciate music and have a special place for it in my heart.
Right about the time spring had sprung in my life, I purchased Taylor Swift's most recent album, "Red". It's good, fun, catchy, dance-party-while-you-cook music. Kind of angry break-up music, but with some humor to help cut the sting. To sum up, absolutely not grounded in Truth. And, for someone who has never been in a relationship, not the first album that you would think that the Lord would use in my life. But God is funny like that and has used her album to walk me into spring. But the Lord has used every single song on that album to walk with me through the healing and processing of winter. All Truth is God's truth, even the tiny pieces buried in pop-country albums.
As the wounds and scars of winter fade, so has "Red" from the top of my "Most Recently Played" list. Then the roster for Belgium began to settle and introductions were made via email. One of the get-to-know-you questions was about favorite music, and Taylor Swift kept coming up. I just had to laugh. Of course she would. Because the Lord is good and faithful, meeting my sentimental little heart everywhere I go. It would seem that my springtime soundtrack will be overflowing into summer.
"But on a Wednesday in a cafe, I watch it begin again..." - T. Swift
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