But first, a couple thoughts of introduction. First off, I know I ripped the beginning of the title off of some song or something, but I just can’t remember what, so if you know it, give me a shout out and let me know.

Second, the rebuke offered after my last post was at first met with hostility and for that I’m thankful. Not that I was hostile, but that I have good, godly friends (the greatest of whom is my loving wife) who are willing to put forth honest (though at times slightly sarcastic) advice. ;) It is true, I have played this game too much and it has interfered with my life. Shame on me and all those who suffer similar distractions (I am praying for you). Not that I think there is anything inherently wrong with the use of video games, but the overuse that poses the problem. Alas, that is for another post. In any case, thank you once again. I have gotten off my butt, I am thinking again.

Which brings me to my third point of introduction. Tonight, I attended my first class of my last semester: Theology of Christian Ministry, taught by my pastor, Dr. John Greever. After sitting for around three hours in a cramped chair learning about things most people would doze off during, I realized… I love this. I love thinking, I love theology, I love God. It has been too long since I’ve made an attempt at sharpening my mind and tonight felt like a spring breeze. It was wonderful. So that’s why I’m writing this post, because a couple nights ago my wife posed a question to me. We were in the car and I was listening to my usual playlist of mello depressing tunes and singing right along. She was disturbed, however. She said, “How can you listen to these things and not become depressed? How do you not let this affect you?” Honestly, I couldn’t think of an answer. Perhaps I was just calloused? Dead to emotions I longed to feel and express? However, I thought not so, but could not explain why. So tonight, after thinking for three hours, I decided to think some more. I decided to try and figure out an answer. Here is what I came up with.

I don’t listen to all sad music. There is what I believe is called “emo punk rock” that I don’t much appreciate (and that’s a general statement; I do like some very small portion of it. Why I do is following…). Though they obviously dwell on sadness and hurt, I don’t seem to find myself entranced the same way I do with the sad music I have come to love and cling to. Here is why I think that is. There is so much ingenuous sadness in our culture. When the saddest things people can sing about are two week breakups and bad hangovers I feel I am about to vomit. There is genuine beauty in what the artists I listen to are singing about. Not only is there genuine sadness, but there is adept articulation. There is depth in their sadness, and they express it with depth. Not that all depth is a good thing. Deep evil or wrong is still wrong. What I mean is this: They have felt deep, genuine sadness and express it in deep, meaningful ways. There is beauty in that. There is beauty in frailty, there is beauty in authentic humility. Though most of the artists I listen to probably don’t intend to convey that humility, they do through their expressed emotions. They realize they are fragile, breakable human beings, and lest it gets old from me saying it… There is beauty in that.

That’s why I love the music I do. That’s why it doesn’t depress me but instead fill me with a sense of awe at how frail we are and how deeply hurt we can be, and how great our God is. So, if you would like to take up the discussion and point out any flaws I might (and probably do) have in my arguments, you are welcome. But please do be gentle. This is something I take great joy in, and do not believe to be harmful or detrimental to my spiritual well-being (though it might be for others, my wife admittedly included).