“Shadows are fallin’ and I’ve been here all day
It’s too hot to sleep and time is runnin’ away
Feel like my soul has turned into steel
I’ve still got the scars that the sun didn’t heal
There’s not even room enough to be anywhere
It’s not dark yet but it’s gettin’ there.”
– Bob Dylan
LIGHT UP THE DARK
This song started with the drumbeat: gigantic, bombastic, jock-rock toms. I wanted the drums to
sound like warfare. I had the chords when we started, but Dylan hammered out the guitar riff
without too many suggestions from Will and me. As a modern worship leader, I am well aware
of the ubiquitous trend of “WHOA-OHH” choruses to fill in the middle part of worship songs
where lyrics used to be. However, it was unavoidable for this song. The lyrics are about unity
and glorifying God as one voice, and there’s just no better way to express that than with an easy-
to-sing refrain without any actual words to learn. Sue me. I had to take several passes at this
vocal to get the right attitude and energy, and I think we got it on the third session. Hey, you
can’t rush adequacy!
Man, it’s a dark world sometimes. I don’t just mean spiritually dark, as in “evil”, or “wicked”,
although there’s plenty of that all around us. I mean life can get so cluttered and filled up with
stuff that it’s difficult to function as a person. The arrows of distraction can be so numerous that
they blot out the sunlight of hope and purpose. The NOISE of the world can be so deafening that
we no longer hear the call to be distinct, separate and holy. And, maybe worst of all, we become
so accustomed to the noise that we begin to fear silence.
It’s almost a form of torture for me to take even the shortest of car trips without some kind of
music playing. And, if no music is available, I’m talking or singing as fast and furious as my
mind will allow. Anything to avoid a quiet moment. I crave entertainment and the constant buzz
of technology so much that a genuine, breathable, silent moment might be too much for me to
consume. But that’s where God waits for me. That’s where He waits for all of us. Why do we
fight it so hard?
We are called to be the light of the world, the city on a hill. How can we, when our minds are
preoccupied beehives of confusion, humming with distracted fury? We are not alone. And we are
called to connect, person-to- person, even in small, undocumented, un-photographed and
unfiltered moments that serve only to remind those around us: There is more to this world than
just darkness and noise. There is a God who loves you, and He is moving the universe to be with
you. Be the light in the dark. Let the light shine through the murky haze of hopeless distraction
and constant noise. And let it be love.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and
glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 (NIV)
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