What a mystery
That You notice me
And in a crowd of ten thousand
You don’t miss a thing
You Don’t Miss A Thing, from the Bethel Music album We Will Not Be Shaken
What a mystery
That You notice me
And in a crowd of ten thousand
You don’t miss a thing
You Don’t Miss A Thing, from the Bethel Music album We Will Not Be Shaken
—
Currently on repeat, Simplicity, from the Album The Art of Celebration
I come with my broken song / To You the Perfect One / To worship You / In spirit and truth
Start walking with your head held high
The future is bright, Heaven’s gates are open wide.
Every trouble that you ever walk through
Peace, my child, I am, I am fighting for you
Lyrics from the Tenth Avenue North Song ‘Fighting For You’, from the 2016 album Followers. Apt, for a returning Prodigal of sorts…
It feels like the sort of thing that one knows intuitively; that music and memory are inextricably linked. Finding out that there is a whole slew of science (Google search) that supports this is intensely gratifying, in the same way I imagine that someone who stumbles on a hastily put together recipe for quick delicious food must feel if that recipe ends up being celebrated by what I suppose is the more discerning palate of a Gordon Ramsey or a Jamie Oliver. Time and time again when I reflect on a song from yesteryear, I find that the where, who, what and when are indistinguishable from the song of the time, particularly where it was a song that I had on repeat for what feels in retrospect like days on end.
It feels like I listened to a lot more music this year than I have previously – a feeling backed up by my Instagram feed it seems. Walking and running a lot more this year than I have previously has helped, seeing as my trusty phone is a constant companion on these. I might subscribe to Spotify or a similar service next year, just for the greater granularity and visibility it will bring to my listening habits.
As I reflected on the year over at Stories.ng, I found that the thing with L (which ultimately failed) and the thing with S (which I am hopeful about) featured prominently, as did wrestling with the burden of grief, my extended weekend in Vienna and the Hillsong Conference which were the highlights of my #NineFridaysOfSummer.
Looking over these songs, I found clear patterns: Songs #1 and #2 corresponded to the start of the year and the sense of fresh energy, #3 to #9 lined up with the back and forth with L and the ultimate demise of that situationship. Songs #10, 11 and 12 reflect on slowly coming around to and warming up to the thing with S, #16 a throwback to the Hillsong conference and the much anticipated release of the conference worship album. #19 was the sound track to the period in which I wrestled with the burden of grief.
Beyond the obvious things above, there are no other overarching things to glean – it is a mix of genres, styles and eras in the christian contemporary music genre. Make of them what you will.
—
Finally pre-ordered the Let There Be Light album from which one of my favourite songs from this year’s Hillsong Conference comes.
Ace!
Hold On, Be Strong…
God’s got the final say
#OnRepeat
Have had this on repeat for most of the week… #EarWorm
—
Healer of my brokenness
My weary soul will find its rest
You are my strength, the lifter of my head
You’re greater than my yesterdays
You hold me close today
You’re the Lord of my tomorrows
Mercy, from the Casting Crowns Album Until The Whole World Hears (2009)