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Monday, September 18, 2006 Songs that Matter, Part II: Rich Mullins Rich Mullins died a few years before I became a fan of his music, but I would have liked to meet him in person. Rich was a rarity--I like to say that 95% of Christian Music (CCM) is terrible, but he was in the 5% that is wonderful; not only was he an outstanding musician, but he wrote with an total honesty that wasn't afraid to question God (not entirely "kosher" in some Christian circles, where too often questioning is perceived as a lack of faith and perhaps almost sinful) or himself. He was also a firm believer in living his faith and putting words into action: "Unlike most artists in Contemporary Christian Music, Mullins did not consider his music his primary ministry, but rather a means to pay his bills. Instead, his ministry was the way he treated his neighbors, family and enemies. Taking a vow of poverty, he accepted a small church salary and spent the last years of his life on a Navajo reservation teaching music to children" (from the Wikipedia). Two of Rich's songs are particularly special to me: Hard to Get and Hold Me Jesus. After growing up in church and taking it seriously for my entire life, I can usually give reasonable answers to theological questions--but sometimes life doesn't make sense, even after all the intellectualized mantras about trusting God and how God is love. Sometimes life feels like nothing more than a walking shadow, a cycle of pain. Sometimes you wonder: "Do you who live in heaven / Hear the prayers of those of us who live on earth / Who are afraid of being left by those we love / And who get hardened by the hurt / Do you remember when You lived down here where we all scrape / To find the faith to ask for daily bread / Did You forget about us after You had flown away?" But even in the questioning, God is there--and sometimes even though I don't have all the answers, even though it still hurts, his presence is enough. ^ Top | 3:18 AM | | | 
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