Compass
by Lady Antebellum
Yes, for better or worse, I'm a selective country fan. There are plenty of country music messages that I can't stand. You know the ones. Some can't stop whining about all of their countless problems, or twanging about their favorite drunken bar, or bragging about their latest sexual conquests. Nope, those songs I am NOT a fan of.
BUT . . . Country music also has some of the sweetest, most romantic ballads ever. Some of the most inspirational lyrics I have ever heard about love of family, love for a spouse, love of God, love of country, and love for life have been country music. Not that I've succeeded in convincing my husband of this fact yet.
There are two popular country songs that have recently hit the radio. I think I even heard them both for the first time on the same exact afternoon. Their tunes are very catchy. Their lyrics, especially the choruses, got stuck in my head in an instant. Their messages seemed very similar at first hearing. They were thought provoking. Then I realized that in my mind they were actually sending polar opposite messages. (This might end up being a bit controversial to some, but it's my strong opinion and I can't apologize for it.)
The first one I heard was Kacey Musgrave's "Follow Your Arrow." It had me me bouncing to the fun syncopated beat and clever rhymes. Then I listened to the message: follow your arrow where ever it points.
If you don't go to church
You'll go to hell
If you're the first one
On the front row
You're self-righteous
Son of a-
Can't win for losing
You'll just disappoint 'em
Just 'cause you can't beat 'em
Don't mean you should join 'em
So make lots of noise
Kiss lots of boys
Or kiss lots of girls
If that's something you're into
When the straight and narrow
Gets a little too straight
Roll up a joint, or don't
Just follow your arrow
Wherever it points, yeah
Follow your arrow
Wherever it points
Basically it says that no matter what we do, we're not going to be able to make everyone happy. So the song suggests to just do whatever makes you happy, and don't worry about anything or anybody else. Seems pretty self-advocating and harmless, right? Not to me. It sounds rather selfish actually. This song seems to say to make your own rules, alter your ethics, and do whatever you want to gain your greatest temporal happiness. I know that this is not God's way. He has defined clear ways for me to live my life that really have led to wondrous, fulfilling, and lasting joy in my life. I didn't get to this place of peace and joy by going it alone, or doing things MY way. Actually, when I did go with that approach, I was quite miserable. I'm not making everyone happy by doing it God's way, but I know it's the way for eternal happiness.
So then there's this second new song. Lady Antebellum's "Compass." This song says to follow your heart.
Yeah it's been a bumpy road
Roller coasters high and low
Fill the tank and drive the car
Pedal fast, pedal hard
You wont have to go that far
You wanna give up cuz it's dark
We're really not that far apart
So let your heart, sweet heart
Be your compass when your lost
And you should follow it where ever it may go
When it's all said and done
You can walk instead of run
Cuz no matter what you'll never be alone
That doesn't seem different at all from following your arrow, does it? I told you that at first, they seemed quite similar! There was one critical difference for me. My heart is guarded and guided by God. My heart keeps me on the straight and narrow path back to him. My heart tells me what I really need to feel lasting joy and happiness. My heart doesn't lie, and it doesn't change positions on the whims of the world. It stays constant, just like true north on a compass.
A few days later I heard the Compass song again. By this time, I had the chorus memorized. As the lyrics reverberated through my mind, tears welled up. I knew my Heavenly Father was speaking to my heart again through the words of this chorus. It was if he was singing directly to me! He reminded me that during my rough years, I wanted to give up cuz it was dark. His reassuring words testified to me that "we're really not that far apart." Then the sweet comfort came. He's given me my heart to guide me like a compass. I can take my time to really search out what my heart is telling me. I don't have to exhaustively run through life. It is not a race. Healing and living takes time. A steady, constant walk is better than a sporadic, manic sprint any day. And no matter what, even on the darkest, scariest days I know I'll never be alone.
BUT . . . Country music also has some of the sweetest, most romantic ballads ever. Some of the most inspirational lyrics I have ever heard about love of family, love for a spouse, love of God, love of country, and love for life have been country music. Not that I've succeeded in convincing my husband of this fact yet.
There are two popular country songs that have recently hit the radio. I think I even heard them both for the first time on the same exact afternoon. Their tunes are very catchy. Their lyrics, especially the choruses, got stuck in my head in an instant. Their messages seemed very similar at first hearing. They were thought provoking. Then I realized that in my mind they were actually sending polar opposite messages. (This might end up being a bit controversial to some, but it's my strong opinion and I can't apologize for it.)
The first one I heard was Kacey Musgrave's "Follow Your Arrow." It had me me bouncing to the fun syncopated beat and clever rhymes. Then I listened to the message: follow your arrow where ever it points.
If you don't go to church
You'll go to hell
If you're the first one
On the front row
You're self-righteous
Son of a-
Can't win for losing
You'll just disappoint 'em
Just 'cause you can't beat 'em
Don't mean you should join 'em
So make lots of noise
Kiss lots of boys
Or kiss lots of girls
If that's something you're into
When the straight and narrow
Gets a little too straight
Roll up a joint, or don't
Just follow your arrow
Wherever it points, yeah
Follow your arrow
Wherever it points
Basically it says that no matter what we do, we're not going to be able to make everyone happy. So the song suggests to just do whatever makes you happy, and don't worry about anything or anybody else. Seems pretty self-advocating and harmless, right? Not to me. It sounds rather selfish actually. This song seems to say to make your own rules, alter your ethics, and do whatever you want to gain your greatest temporal happiness. I know that this is not God's way. He has defined clear ways for me to live my life that really have led to wondrous, fulfilling, and lasting joy in my life. I didn't get to this place of peace and joy by going it alone, or doing things MY way. Actually, when I did go with that approach, I was quite miserable. I'm not making everyone happy by doing it God's way, but I know it's the way for eternal happiness.
So then there's this second new song. Lady Antebellum's "Compass." This song says to follow your heart.
Yeah it's been a bumpy road
Roller coasters high and low
Fill the tank and drive the car
Pedal fast, pedal hard
You wont have to go that far
You wanna give up cuz it's dark
We're really not that far apart
So let your heart, sweet heart
Be your compass when your lost
And you should follow it where ever it may go
When it's all said and done
You can walk instead of run
Cuz no matter what you'll never be alone
That doesn't seem different at all from following your arrow, does it? I told you that at first, they seemed quite similar! There was one critical difference for me. My heart is guarded and guided by God. My heart keeps me on the straight and narrow path back to him. My heart tells me what I really need to feel lasting joy and happiness. My heart doesn't lie, and it doesn't change positions on the whims of the world. It stays constant, just like true north on a compass.
A few days later I heard the Compass song again. By this time, I had the chorus memorized. As the lyrics reverberated through my mind, tears welled up. I knew my Heavenly Father was speaking to my heart again through the words of this chorus. It was if he was singing directly to me! He reminded me that during my rough years, I wanted to give up cuz it was dark. His reassuring words testified to me that "we're really not that far apart." Then the sweet comfort came. He's given me my heart to guide me like a compass. I can take my time to really search out what my heart is telling me. I don't have to exhaustively run through life. It is not a race. Healing and living takes time. A steady, constant walk is better than a sporadic, manic sprint any day. And no matter what, even on the darkest, scariest days I know I'll never be alone.