Reflection / John Shaughnessy

Is there a song that has led you deeper into your faith, your humanity, your love?

I had just reached my destination, a natural time to turn off the car and the radio, but the song that was playing made me want to continue listening.

The song, “Daylight,” is by the group Shinedown, and one repeating verse is equally lovely, thought-provoking and haunting:

“It’s amazing what the hard times can reveal.
“Like who shows up, who walks away and who’s for real.”

With those lyrics searing into my mind, my thoughts turned to the people I’ve showed up for and the people who are and have been real for me.

At the same time, I was haunted by thoughts of the times I’ve walked away from people who deserved better from me.

Embracing those lyrics, I knew I needed to be better in reaching out in gratitude to the people who have been real for me—and reaching out in forgiveness for those I’ve failed.

That’s the power of one song and the overall power of one of the great gifts that God has given to humanity—the gift to create and share music that touches our hearts, lifts our souls and challenges us to be better.

Sometimes, a song also takes you back in time.

One moment, you’re in the present, siting in your air-conditioned car with bucket seats, when a song from your youth plays on the radio, transporting you to a summer evening in your past when a cool breeze flows through the rolled-down windows of your car and the girl of your dreams slides across the front bench seat, puts her hand on your knee and rests her head on your shoulder—one of the earliest and most pleasurable forms of distracted driving ever.

Sometimes, a song takes you deeper into the heart of a person, someone you’ve known and been told about your entire life, someone who has always been literally and figuratively placed on a pedestal.

As Catholics, we’ve always been told about the power of Mary’s “yes” to become the mother of Jesus, a choice that changed the history of the world and the path to salvation. I have always felt close to her, yet one song takes that connection to a poignantly deeper human level for me—“Breath of Heaven” by Amy Grant.

The lyrics of that song capture all the emotions she must have felt—her uncertainty, her fear, her unworthiness, all leading to her humble acceptance based in faith and love.

In the song, Mary achingly shares it all with God:

“Do you wonder as you watch my face,
“If a wiser one should have had my place?
“But I offer all I am
“For the mercy of Your plan
“Help me be strong
“Help me be
“Help me”

One of my favorite love songs has the unlikely title of “Chasing Cars,” by the group Snow Patrol. The song has one set of lyrics that take the words, “I love you,” to another level:

“Those three words
“They say so much
“But not enough”

The song also has lyrics that connect me to all the people who have helped me on my sometimes-struggling, still-searching journey of faith:

“I need your grace
“To remind me to find my own.”

In a way, those lyrics connect to another part of “Daylight” by Shinedown.

At one point when the lead singer reflects upon “who shows up, who walks away and who’s for real,” the background singers share a message of support, repeating this line several times:

“Have faith that you’re not alone.”

Let us reach out in gratitude to the people who show up for us, who are real for us.

Let us reach out in forgiveness for the people we have failed.

And in our struggling and searching, let us have faith that we’re not alone.
 

(An invitation: Whether it’s a song from popular culture or from a church hymnal, it would be great to hear your story of how that song has led you to a deeper level of faith, humanity or love. For anyone accepting this invitation, please send your story and song[s] to me at jshaughnessy@archindy.org or by mail in care of The Criterion, 1400 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46202. Please include your parish and a daytime phone number where you can be reached.) †