Very early in my marriage, just over 25 years ago, my bride plunged
cheerfully into contemporary Christian music.
At that time, I was still squarely in the Jimmy Buffett phase of life
and looking forward to many years of carefree, escapist music. In college (Go Hokies!), I had finally been
exposed to some new sounds that my small town’s K-Mart didn’t carry, and didn’t
intend to carry since pickup trucks were not represented prominently in the
lyrics.
So it was with a condescending tone that I smiled and
offered a less than heart-felt “Thank you” to my wife when she returned home
from a concert and placed in my hands a twin-CD of Michael Card’s ‘The Ancient
Faith’.
Ah well – thanks honey. I’ll just file that over here by the dog-food
and paid bills. It was a sweet
thought. It was well intentioned.
It changed my life.
That CD currently rests on top of a stack of CD’s on my desk
here at work. Its edges are worn. The cover is faded. The style is perhaps somewhat dated. And having handed out copies through the
years, I know it’s not for everyone. All
I can tell you is that the themes and passion for God got a hold of my insides
– heart and soul. To me, it’s an amazing
work. It paints the Old Testament with
colors I didn’t know existed. I’ve listened
to it for those 25 years and still discover facets that I hadn’t heard
before.
The work is strong across the board – but particular
favorites include:
‘Asleep on Holy Ground’ –
recounting Jacob’s dream. “He limped away on holy ground, awakened
from the dream. Having learned his
costly lesson from the ways of the Nazarene.
That pain’s the path to blessing, Love will fight us to be found,
and God remains a dream to those, who sleep on holy ground.”
‘The Way of Wisdom’ – on Proverbs. “The
Way of Understanding lies in not how much you know. For the Pathway is a Person that you come to
love and so you can stop pretending that it all depends on you. For it’s not how much you love, as
much as how much He loves you.”
Over twenty years ago, on a bright August day, we welcomed our
first child into the world. After
literally being up all night, I drove home in the morning from the hospital to
collect some things for my lovely wife.
On the way, Michael was on the cassette player singing about the Song of
Songs. “Set me like a seal on your heart, for love is unyielding as the
grave. The flash of it is a jealous fire
no flood can quench for Love is as strong as death.” All the world was
right and hopeful. I was a dad and God
was in His heaven.
On returning to the hospital, I learned that newborn Hannah’s
breathing was labored and they wanted to air-lift her to Roanoke. I had to make another run to our house this
time to gather clothes for my trip with her.
And this time, Michael’s words were from Job and they hit me with such
force – “Oh Lord send a Comforter now to
my door, so that this terror will frighten no more! A Counselor between us, to come hear my oath;
Someone who could lay a hand on us both.” It was a rare moment, when I felt God was
saying to me, “Remember who you are – and who I Am.” Tears spring to my eyes even now on the
thought of it. How good is God. How weak and fragile we are.
And it’s not too much to say that outside of the Bible and
friendships, Michael Card has had as large an impact on my faith as anything
else. This little essay isn’t intended to
get you to listen to his music – although I wish you would. But to say a long overdue thank you to a
Brother. I know your sacrifices have been
great – and the load heavy. You have
kept the faith. Thank you.
