I finished Flannery O'Connor's short story collection today that I had been working through. She owns me like no other writer of fiction! Her dark, shadowy characters and settings paint a real-life picture to me. Her incredible ability to shed the light of the Gospel on the mundane, ordinariness of life captures my attention with every page. As I read these stories, I was reminded that I really prefer short stories to novels, which is a lesson I hope to take into my preaching and teaching. Honestly, I am a minister and have several years of theological education, if I get bored or disengaged in a sermon at the half way point, when is every one else tuning out? I am not the best at saying exactly what I want to say in succinct ways, but I am working on it.
The music of Bill Mallonee, especially his solo stuff reminds me of Flannery O'Connor's body of work in some way, shape, form or fashion. As I was doing yard work this morning, I heard this song from Mallonee.
I Will Never Be Normal (After This) Year: 2003 | Run Time: 5:31
Written by Bill Mallonee for CyBrenJoJosh (BMI) ©2004
now most of my friends
they have bailed out long ago
and they've all got their stories
for the paths that they have chosen
see for some their family's love
felt like a boxer's blow
now they spend their days feelin' small
wherever they do roam
but hey there are drugs to help you see God
and there are drugs for when depressed
and there are drugs that make you harder still
for when you get undressed
and there's drugs for the guiltiness
so you'll feel one with the universe
but girl you were the only one
to ever break the curse
yeah it could have been your eyes
but i suspect it was your kiss
honey i will never be normal after this
now everyone's a junkie
and since daylight's such a pain
we're all looking for some darkness
to stick into our veins
for some of us it's lust
for others it is power
for some of us it's playing songs
and drinking after hours
yeah you've gone and upped the ante
in this game that we all play
gotta wake up and believe
that love's the better way
and people can really be healed
there are even some of 'em you can trust
but first you gotta take a risk
and tell 'em where it hurts
what if it's for a purpose
what if we used our battered faith
they say God He doesn't make junk
and Jesus never makes mistakes
He has never given up
on anything that He has made
He will chase you like a lover
right through heaven's gate
There's definitely a lot to dissect in this song from a theological perspective! What struck me though is how much it captures my sentiment about Cyd. My life has not been the same or normal since I met her many years ago, yet it has been amazing!! She never ceases to astound me with her beauty, her wit, her wisdom and her perspective on life. She has a window to my soul that is only eclipsed by my Creator. She has a passion for life that is invigorating! I am so thankful to have her as my wife, I have certainly "never been normal since."
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