Forever Fascinated

In August of 1965, Paul Simon of Simon & Garfunkel released an album entitled The Paul Simon Songbook. The first track of this album was the now-famous "I Am a Rock." This song has gone on to become quite legendary in the annals of rock music. But when I read through the lyrics of this song for the first time as a high schooler, I was quite amazed at how depressing the logical outcome of this song was. He wrote,

"A winter's day in a deep and dark December; I am alone, gazing from my window to the streets below on a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow. I am a rock, I am an island.

I've built walls, a fortress deep and mighty, that none may penetrate. I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain. It's laughter and it's loving I disdain.
I am a rock, I am an island.

Don't talk of love, but I've heard the words before; it's sleeping in my memory. I won't disturb the slumber of feelings that have died. If I never loved I never would have cried. I am a rock, I am an island.

I have my books and my poetry to protect me; I am shielded in my armor, hiding in my room, safe within my womb. I touch no one and no one touches me. I am a rock, I am an island.

And a rock feels no pain; and an island never cries."

 As a Christian, I realize that this is not the reality of my life. Though things may be tough, I am not called to retreat and back away. I am called to stand out and transform the world around me. Much like Simon was lamenting, I don't belong. But unlike him, this is a very powerful identity that has been given to me. I stand out so I can transform the world.

To everyone in the Church, I want to encourage you, you are not a rock, nor are you an island. Instead, you have been set apart to be much more like an iPod. How you live has kingdom effects and those effects can be heard loud and clear.

An island is definitely set apart, but not in the way that we are supposed to be set apart. It just is away from everything. It doesn’t try to get in anyone’s business, but will certainly make you feel good if you come to it to relax. Unfortunately, some churches are like this.

A rock is set apart. People usually try to avoid rocks (driving, biking, kayaking, etc.). Rocks can hurt. But they can also look pretty when they all gather together and do nothing and stay out of your way. Unfortunately, some churches are like this too.

But we are not called to be like and island or a rock. In many ways, instead, we are called to be a little bit more like an iPod. An iPod is the source of something that can totally transform someone’s day: music. When people encounter good music, a day of clouds and rain can flip upside down and a smile can come back to their faces. Music has the power to totally change your perspective; it just needs to be played. Turn the iPod on. Put in the headphones. Bam!

In a similar way, the church is a lot more like an iPod than like an island or a rock. We have something inside of us that can totally transform the world. We just need to let it out and press play.

In what ways are you pressing play today?