I’ve observed others using earbuds for quite some time. I didn’t think they were for me. I’m an old guy. My earphones, when I used them still had wires.
I was unsure of how that all worked. Why would one want to listen to music constantly? When I’m out on my early morning walks on the golf course, I need my mind clear for thinking and praying. It’s much like the sea battles in the days of sail and wooden ships; think Master and Commander.
Clearing the decks for battle in those days meant literally that. The bulkheads (walls for you non-Naval types) of the captain’s cabin for example were constructed in such a way that they along with his furniture, and personal items, could “be cleared below” and the space was quickly converted from a place of comfort to one of war from which several canons could be fired. All this to prepare for battle. Anything that might distract in any way from being victorious was stowed.
Nothing was more important than survival…and victory.
My mind is a bit like that wooden sailing ship. The world has crept into my mind…built some comfortable walls, even hung some pictures. It needs clearing for battle.
Try as I may, it seems impossible to keep the world out. There’s the TV over and over repeating the very latest bad news, and if that isn’t enough there’s all the bad news right on “my device.” There is no escaping!
I’m not a trained psychologist, but I am an experienced old country boy, and I think all that negativity eventually becomes detrimental to the human mind. But don’t let me drag you into my weaknesses.
I don’t need music cluttering up my “deck” as I prepare for battle with the world. It would be a distraction would it not? Just more clutter in the way of winning the battle. And besides all that, I don’t need another app on my phone…do I?
But then a high-tech granddaughter took me under her wing and showed me how simple it really can be to set up a playlist.
And now I’ve become a fan of earbuds and playlists and I’ve found they actually help set the tone for the battles of my day. Music helps me to tune out, “clear the decks” if you will, some of the ever-increasing trauma that seems to consume our world.
Now I have several playlists.
There’s a couple of Sunday and worship related playlists, a John Philip Sousa playlist (I love military marches), thank you Mr. Moeller, a couple of country ‘lists, a classical one, oh and my “soundtracks” playlist. The theme from ‘Out of Africa’ or ‘The Onedin Line’ can help set the tone (pun intended) for a better day. My favorite I call “mixed.” That’s what it is, a little bit of everything.
In the quiet of a recent morning while trying to decipher some legal verbiage from my attorney, words from a playlist preached to me. It was a song from “mixed.”
I have Travis Tritt in some of my playlists because when I was having two months of daily prostate cancer radiation treatments at Anshutz Medical Center in Aurora CO. They played Travis’s song It’s “A Great Day To Be Alive” while I was in the treatment room all by myself as the impersonal equipment did its work.
Today, however, it was the ‘Reverend’ Travis Tritt preaching, saying it was all my fault! It was a song from his new Gospel album, “Nobody’s Fault But Mine.” His very true words caught my attention.
“Well nobody’s fault but mine
Nobody’s fault but mine
If I die and my soul be lost
Nobody’s fault but mine
Well father taught me how to read
Father taught me how to read
If I don’t read and my soul be lost
It’s nobody’s fault but mine”
And,
“I got a Bible in my home
I got a Bible in my home
But if I don’t read and my soul be lost
It’s nobody’s fault but mine”
Then:
“Mother she taught me how to pray
Mother she taught me how to pray
If I fail to pray and my soul be lost
Ain’t nobody’s fault but mine”
Travis’s words reminded me of the frailty of my human condition. It really is up to me. No one, not my Mom or Dad, not my very best friend, not my Pastor can believe for me. It is up to me! They can’t make me read, pray or believe. Only I can do that.
I’m thankful many years ago that God placed people in my life who encouraged me to read God’s word, to pray and to ask God’s forgiveness and to ask Him to save me. I’m not sure I would be here today had that not happened.
Thanks, Travis, for the reminder.
This earbud and playlist thing seems to have some really good points. Now I listen while I clear the decks in my morning walks. I seem to be winning more battles.
I may even listen to one of them there podcasts one of these days. 😎