If you have the blues, guard them with your life. If they are stolen away you may lose the incredible life song they create.
While I was driving back to my office yesterday I was listening to a local sports talk show. Leading into their next segment they played the song "I Can't Dance" by Genesis. One line in the song stuck with me throughout the day. "Young punk spilling beer on my shoes, fat guys talking to me trying to steal my blues."
I am not sure that I am being true to the overall meaning of the song, but that line made me think about how hard we try - to get rid of our blues. We allow them to be stolen away (with minimal if any resistance), by thieves with the names: positive thinking; medication; therapy; minimization; blame; apathy; formulaic living; religion; addictive escape.
What a shame. Some of the best music of all time has come from the blues. In the Bible they are called laments.
Life situations that lead to the blues can be the result of sin. However, according to Psalm 34:19 "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all."
Tough times come to everyone. Dealing with the resulting blues in our own way and our own power removes the opportunity for God to write a meaningful song upon our soul. However, when we patiently (not passively - there is a difference), and obediently wait, we experience God's loving mercy, his deliverance, and a deeper passion and faith for God. Eventually, it all makes sense.
Just ask Joseph.
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