KEEPING AN OPEN MIND

One of my biggest hurdles was the nearly instant emergence of contemporary Christian music that occurred in the 70s. I saw the whole picture as shallow words, music and performers. My musical experience had consisted of entirely deep and glorious hymns and wonderful “spiritual songs,” rich with spiritual meaning. The music program at our church was outstanding and brilliant and the effect it had on my life was something I could never put on paper. Every song changed my life.

So, when I started hearing songs about “giggling” and “throwing someone overboard,” digging my heels just happened automatically. Therefore, many were the discussions about the music making its way out of our kids’ rooms.

I was not to be persuaded. There was nothing anyone could do to change my mind. I “threw out” the whole contemporary Christian music movement.

One day, Matt and I got into it. He tried to tell me how great one of the songs was, but I did not wish to be persuaded. Our conversation was friendly, but I was unbending. Give me “Hallelujah! What a Savior! Hallelujah! What a Friend!”

Still friends, but on opposite sides of an issue, we continued to talk. Matt, in a firm, but kind manner, asked me to give in just long enough to sit down and listen to the song which apparently was meaning something to him. I agreed. It was only a temporary concession.

We sat down on the floor, our backs against the wrought iron railing between the living and dining rooms, and he started the record. What entered, first into my ears and then into my heart, was the story of Jairus as I had never heard it. I loved the story of the healing of Jairus’ daughter and nothing could make me believe it more than I did when I sat down on the floor, but I heard someone telling the story in song with passion that touched me very profoundly. The song went through the Bible account, sung from the viewpoint of Jairus, vexed and afraid, and then ended with the scene in the room of the little girl:

And then he called his 3 disciples that were with him on the way, 

He led them and my wife and me to where our daughter lay. 

He took her by the hand, he told her, "Child arise.", 

And the words were barely spoken, when she opened up her eyes, 

She rose and walked across the room and stood there at our sides. 

My wife knelt down and held her close and at last she really cried. 

And then Jesus told us both to see our daughter had some food, 

but as to how her life was saved not to speak a word, not to speak a word… But I gotta tell somebody, I gotta tell somebody, 

I gotta tell somebody, what Jesus did for me.

I was blessed immensely. I was even excited! My thinking changed enough for me to start listening with an open mind and make the measure on an individual basis. It’s a good lesson for us all. Don’t we just get so dogmatic sometimes that learning something new or expanding our life a little is just plain impossible? I am a better person even to this day for having been reminded in such a moving way about a desperate man who tracked down the Great Physician.