There are certain songs when they come on Spotify or SiriusXM, they prompt the majority of us to totally freeze and sing along; it matters little what we\u2019re doing. We just must. Sing along.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Such as\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWoah, we’re half way there<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Woah, livin’ on a prayer<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Take my hand, we’ll make it I swear<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Woah, livin’ on a prayer\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026 or\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTell me why<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ain’t nothin’ but a heartache<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Tell me why<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ain’t nothin’ but a mistake<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Tell me why<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I never wanna hear you say<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I want it that way\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026 and last but not least\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh no, not I, I will survive<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh, as long as I know how to love, I know I’ll stay alive<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I’ve got all my life to live<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n And I’ve got all my love to give and I’ll survive<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I will survive\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n In recent years there\u2019s another lyrical set which personally makes me freeze. I admit: it\u2019s not quite as popular. Maybe the lyrics are harder. But no doubt the lyrics make me think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a creative tune penned by Danny Gokey three years ago. It begins by talking about \u201crunning in circles\u201d and \u201cjumping the hurdles\u201d\u2026 checking boxes and feeling \u201ckinda worn out\u201d \u2014 words that no doubt sometimes apply to each of us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And then it gets to the chorus \u2014 which is probably the part that challenges me most. Gokey writes it like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGotta keep it real simple, keep it real simple<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bring everything right back to ground zero<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n ‘Cause it all comes down to this<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Love God and love people<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n We’re living in a world that keeps breakin’<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But if we wanna find the way to change it<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n It all comes down to this<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Love God and love people\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n My thoughts are two-fold\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Where else do I complicate things? Where do I make things harder than they are?<\/p>\n\n\n\n And secondly \u2014 and maybe one of the most important questions each of us would be wise to ask \u2014 where are the places and what are the things I allow to get in the way of me loving (1) God and (2) other people? Where are those pockets and places that I choose something lesser?<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ll be honest. I think of this a lot more than when the lyrical gem comes on the radio. And I think of how we as a society fail to do this. Sometimes knowingly. Sometimes not. I mean, there are so many wonderful people on this planet. So many seemingly wise. But yet there are also so many who encourage loving all people except ______________.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Fill in the blank however you wish. But that\u2019s the challenge Gokey poignantly pens in his song. There is nothing that deserves resting in that blank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nothing.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I get it. We get irritated. We get annoyed. We face both real and perceived opposition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Still nothing\u2026 belongs in that blank.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Respectfully\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" There are certain songs when they come on Spotify or SiriusXM, they prompt the majority of us to totally freeze and sing along; it matters little what we\u2019re doing. We just must. Sing along. Such as\u2026 \u201cWoah, we’re half way there Woah, livin’ on a prayer Take my hand, we’ll make it I swear Woah, … <\/p>\n