Andrew Richards is one of my closest friends in the world. If I had to put him in a box (by the way, the phrase “inside/outside the box” has become the antithesis of what that phrase really means) I would call him a “thinker.” I have been blessed over and over by Andrew through his thoughts and his friendship. We established a mantra early on in our college life, but didn’t see it truly manifest itself till we spent 6 weeks gallivanting around Europe. Andrew currently resides with his wife wife and 2 and a half year old son in San Clemente. He spends his days learning, surfing, and mobilizing the church to join with God in His mission of reclaiming, redeeming and restoring (or something like that).
Opening Chords
by Andrew Richards
Have you had this happen: the opening measures of a new song come on and instantly you like it. Why is that? Is it a feeling, an emotion, just pure aesthetic appeal? Or is it deeper – something your soul needs to hear at that moment… something that resonates with the tonality and rhythm of the song? Is it all shaped and informed solely by preference? Or is there something deeper and more universal in music?
Something Hans Christian Anderson has said pops into my mind quite often:
“Where words fail, music speaks.”
We seem to live in a culture of word worship. It seems like we can’t handle silence. Or maybe it’s because it requires too much work to read a person’s non-verbal communication and really connect with their experience, so we settle for their words.
Or more accurately, I settle for my understanding of their words.
How do you truly listen to music? Who truly listens to music? How can we truly listen to each other if we don’t know how to listen to music?
What was the last song that made you cry?