“The only truth is music” – Jack Kerouac
I was 16 and my life was falling apart. At least that is how I remember feeling. The truth is, within the years of youth lay a thousand tiny tragedies. In this I envy teens, for they live a life of valleys and peaks. This is where a beautiful life is seized and not in the monotony of the American office job. On this particular evening, I went to the popular avenue of music for my generation, the compact disc. Be warned you young ones, the music which offers comfort now will later make you chuckle with the nostalgia of a unrequited love. And while I don’t remember the song or its chorus, I do remember that feeling. The feeling of peace within the chaos of adolescence. This sound, however trite, gave oxygen to my soul. On that night, I was born again.
Music moves us because it has no boundaries. Talent and structure are relative and as long as this world is burdened, there will be someone raging against the chaos with verse and tune. There are few connections more profound than that of a listener and a songwriter. We connect because though we may never meet, we both know what it is like to struggle – to be human. I strongly believe that to truly know someone, you have to listen to the music they listen to. Like a glimpse into the dark corners of their soul, the sound they cling to will tell you of the truth they rest in. Perhaps God gave us music to give vent to the feelings too deep for mere language. It is a quiet assurance to our souls that a God exists, and He wants desperately for us to take pleasure in our connection to those around us for music is made in and for community. It declares that no matter the weight you carry, you are simply not alone.
And so the verse rages on. With ear to the ground, forsake the silence and embrace the heartbeat of a generation. Never be ashamed of the music you carry within you, for it carries the story of your life and countless others.
Matt simon blog 