I was intrigued a couple of days ago as I read an interview with Ricky Skaggs in The9513 Country Music blog. Most everyone knows that Ricky has been in the music business since he was a sorta bluegrass prodigy in his teens. He can play just about anything with strings, not just kinda, but well.
He made this statement: "I’ve always loved diversity. God is a diverse god. He’s very creative, and I think He created us to be creative. I think He wants us to be creative. That’s the thing I love about music: there’s so much music out there. My iPod is full of all kinds of different music, and my kids have helped me with that a lot because they listen to a lot of different music."
I was immediately reminded of Eric Liddel -- the runner who was the subject of the great film "Chariots of Fire" about thirty years ago. Eric came from Scots missionary family and eventually, at the end of the Second World War, died in a Japanese prison camp in occupied China. His sister's opinion was that running was a waste of time. His memorable reply in the movie was, "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure." This comes the closest to what I can describe as my "feeling" as a songwriter. Songwriting is hard work. The joy of a song well-written and well-received by others who know that is wonderful. Eric Liddel considered running as a part of his purpose. He honored God by doing the things he was blessed with to the fullest and most excellent degree possible for as long as God enabled him.
Ricky Skaggs, 90 years later, is echoing the same sentiment. What a joy to honor God in the diverse, creative ways he has made us. I only, ever, want to make this creative "partnership" with God the basis of why I write.
He made this statement: "I’ve always loved diversity. God is a diverse god. He’s very creative, and I think He created us to be creative. I think He wants us to be creative. That’s the thing I love about music: there’s so much music out there. My iPod is full of all kinds of different music, and my kids have helped me with that a lot because they listen to a lot of different music."
I was immediately reminded of Eric Liddel -- the runner who was the subject of the great film "Chariots of Fire" about thirty years ago. Eric came from Scots missionary family and eventually, at the end of the Second World War, died in a Japanese prison camp in occupied China. His sister's opinion was that running was a waste of time. His memorable reply in the movie was, "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure." This comes the closest to what I can describe as my "feeling" as a songwriter. Songwriting is hard work. The joy of a song well-written and well-received by others who know that is wonderful. Eric Liddel considered running as a part of his purpose. He honored God by doing the things he was blessed with to the fullest and most excellent degree possible for as long as God enabled him.
Ricky Skaggs, 90 years later, is echoing the same sentiment. What a joy to honor God in the diverse, creative ways he has made us. I only, ever, want to make this creative "partnership" with God the basis of why I write.
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