Tags
Christian, country, Elisha, inspiration, Joy, K-Love, music, power of the Lord, twang
Elisha said, “Get me a musician.” And while the musican was playing, the power of the Lord came upon Elisha.—-2 Kings 3:15
I have a little am/fm radio. It has a clear plastic case so that I can see the printed circuit board, capacitors,, resistors, and other electronic components. The case is clear so that I can’t hide anything inside of it. It’s the kind of radio that you have to tune with a dial- there’s no digital display. In many ways, it’s an antique. Today’s tech-savvy young people would have little use for such a primitive electronic device. But to me it’s my connection to the outside would and to music.
The first state prison I was at was located in a relatively populous area, with lots of radio stations nearby. The reception was crystal clear. I could listen to news from NPR, classical music in the afternoons, rock and classic rock, and contemporary Christian. The Christian station played inspirational, uplifting music all day long. My day was filled with music of all kinds, and Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion radio show on Saturday evenings.
When I was moved to my current prison, two things happened that took me back to physics class and electromagnetics. I’m in the sticks now, farther away from radio broadcasting towers. The farther from the radio tower, the weaker the signal, which is blocked by hills and the steel and concrete of the building I live in. Also, other electronic devices can generate their own electromagnetic noise which interferes with radio reception – like when you talk on the cell phone beside a running microwave oven. The first few minutes in my new cell was promising for radio reception. I was picking up many stations. But suddenly the all disappeared in a cloud of static and electronic hum. The neighbor has an old picture tube television which is on nearly all day, everyday. And the cathode ray gun firing off electrons at the screen right on the other side of my cell wall kills off nearly every radio station.
There are, however, two radio stations that come through relatively clearly. And, no offense to those who are fans of this style of music, they are both country music stations. I used to joke that I had a three song limit on country music. Any more than that and there was a risk that my head might explode. I do get NPR, so I can still hear the news through the scratchy signal. But if I want to listen to music, it pretty much has to be country, although when I’m outside for yard I can pick up more stations. (Several of the other receivable stations are country music as well, which led me to ask my cellie, “How many country music stations does a planet need?”
Now my days are filled with twangy music and voices singing about fallin’ in love in the back of a cop car, love that is shady and tragic holdin’ a chainsaw, rollin’ around the town and takin’ another lap around cause that’s the way we roll, watching out for women with whiskey and a gun, some guy always callin’ her when she’s lonely, askin’ Mom and Dad to please send money, and oooo wee shut my mouth slap your grandma. Not only has my “g” started to disappear from my accent, but I’ve learned the difference in voices so that I can tell a Brad Paisley from a Blake Shelton. Sonia visited recently and said that for the first half hour I was talking like I was from West Virginia until it wore off.
I miss my Christian music station. I do pick up a faint Christian station here, but they play old hymns with big vibrato voices singing along with a Hammond organ. And all that does is make me sag down into a slump and expect an altar call. I’m missing the music full of joy and melody with lyrics that say we’re not alone, God is with us, keep holding on, we are overcomers, bad days come and go, suffering makes us stronger, there is light in times of darkness, we’ve been redeemed, God is in control, and sometimes trials of this life are God’s mercies in disguise.
In an odd little section of the stories of the prophet Elisha, the kings of Israel and Judah set out to battle the king of Moab. On the way, the water runs out. The king of Israel freaks out. The King of Judah asks if there’s a prophet around so they can consult the Lord. Elisha lives nearby, so the Kings pay him a visit, seeking, a word from the Lord. Before he can prophecy, Elisha asks for some music, ordering the kings to fetch him a musician. And while the musician played, the power of the Lord came upon Elisha.
What I’m missing is not music. I have that–even if it’s not my normal musical idiom. I’m missing the spiritual power that can be transmitted through music and lyrics. Last night I worked with my radio and headphones, moving all around the cell looking for a way to pick up K Love radio. I get it occasionally in the yard. I discovered that if I lie in my top bunk with my knees drawn up, run the headphone cable along the outside wall, and lift the radio in the air in the corner of the room and hold it there, I can pick up K Love. So you know what position I’ll be in for a large part of my day!!! At least until I get moved to a different cell with better reception.
I hope you get lots of music each day. And I hope that you have a good Christian station nearby to give you a powerful lift in your day. It really is good for your soul!!!