tim mcgraw and an empty room

Due to some recent conversations and a recent gift of a mix cd my take on country music has been challenged. I have always, at least since high school, had an unnatural distaste for country and I think it was out of some base fear that I would become a stereotype that I wanted to avoid. I know that that is not far but stereotypes never are. As I have grown older and more cognizant of my lack of wisdom I have grown to really enjoy country music by some definition. In fact some of my favorite artists have definite country influences in their music. I respect and enjoy Cash, Whiskeytown, Alison Krauss (with one 's' or two?), Lucinda Williams and the list goes on. However I still can not embrace what I think of as pop country. It makes me think of the Chicago Art Institute.

I love going there and walking the halls looking at amazing art and wishing I could do that. The power of art to express what I only wish I can in words. But then I come to the modern section. I remember one time walking into this room that was about 12 feet by 12 feet with bare white walls. The only thing really in the room was a light bulb hanging a couple of feet from the ceiling. I pondered what they would be putting in this room as it was clearly empty. As I walked out of the room I saw a sign that explained the 'art' that was taking place behind me. Something about the darkness of the world and the light of truth... All I know is I did not get it. Still don't. Maybe it was art, maybe even great art. I have no idea. It was then that I realized that for me it is all about ascetics. If it influences my senses in a pleasant way then I enjoy it and even if it offends I often respect it. But then there is the art that does nothing for me because I just don't get it. Popular country is like that. I don't get it. But who knows, maybe someday I will and I will stand at the front of a Tim McGraw concert with my cowboy hat and boots and sing every verse. Until then I will stick with what makes my ears happy.

'simple' living

The past couple of weeks have been a good season in life, if you can count that short of a time as a season, and I think part of that is due to the simplicity of it all. I love it when life is simple and by this I do not mean lacking excitement, challenge or boredom. Rather it is life that has a limited number of areas where I need to focus my time, thoughts and energy. As I write this I am also conversing over IM and I am coming to the conclusion that perhaps this view of seeing simplicity as good is only mine or only male, I am not sure.

As I wrote earlier I love the simple nature of backpacking and having little to no worries since the whole day can be reduced to a couple of simple decisions. In a similar way, living a life being single has many of the same advantages and is generally underappreciated in our culture and churches today. I think Paul had a good point, as often can be found in scripture, when he said it was good to stay single. Oh the sweet simplicity...

There is one area in life, actually probably many, where simplicity and complexity battle within me. That is the area of material possessions. See, I like stuff. I really don't like shopping but I really like stuff. I enjoy gifts, new toys, new music, shoes... And this all competes with my desire for simplicity. What I need to do is practice the regular art of giving things away so that I do not find my belongings intertwining too deeply with my soul. This is hard for me. But I know from a limited number of experiences that it is deeply freeing. There is just something about filling up a bag or two of things you know you don't need and giving them away. I just need to do it more and with things that mean something to me. Not just give away my crap.

So I hope that life will remain simple and I am sure that will not always be the case but to the extent that I can keep it that way and maintain a focus on the few most important things I am sure I will be fair more satisfied. May I long for the best things...