Yesterday my co-worker Ash and I spoke at Champlin Park High School. (If you’re from CPHS, thanks for joining us again today on mysilentscream!)

As we talked about self-esteem I told a story of a particularly painful dating heartbreak.

After the breakup, all night long that night I played Meat Loaf’s album Bat Out Of Hell. In particular, I played “For Crying Out Loud“ over, and over, and over again.

And crying I did. At the time I couldn’t help myself. What I didn’t know at the time is how beneficial crying can be.

The U.S. presidential election is nearing; Tuesday, November 6, 2012. It’s forty-five days away.  Millions of dollars have been spent on the campaigns.

These are the campaign values I’ve heard: accusations and slander, grumbling and judgments, unrest and disharmony, false hopes and empty promises.

I know it’s a dream, but these are the campaign values that I wish I heard:

Let’s be devoted to one another in love.
Let’s honor one another above yourselves.
Let’s inspire one another on toward love and good deeds.
Let’s live in harmony with one another.
Let’s accept one another.

This week I’m responding to Ken Davis’ call to be “fully alive.” Fully alive people are characterized by many things including meaningful friendships, courageously overcoming fear, and a determination to course corrections when they fail.

We all fail.  Failure is painful.

Pain is part of the price of living.
– Love is painful.
– Relationships are painful.
– Failing is painful.

If we choose to move forward in our quest to live fully alive, we will fall, it will hurt . . . and it will be worth it.

Be prepared to pay the price. Change costs.  Progress can be painful.

Last night I was relaxing while listening to Jack Johnson’s “En Concert.”  He’s the kind of artist that helps me relax and feel less alone in my feelings — without prompting me to wallow in them.

His song, “Symbol In My Driveway”, off the On and On album proclaims:

I’ve got a light bulb full of anger
And I can switch it on and off

And, in my best moments, I can shut off my anger; assuring that I neither stuff nor hide my anger.

Shut Off Our Anger

As a followup to yesterday’s post entitled Extravagant Love, here is a wonderful, simple song by Casting Crowns.

“Your Love Is Extravagant” 1

Your love is extravagant
Your friendship, it is intimate
I feel like moving to the rhythm of Your grace
Your fragrance is intoxicating in our secret place
Your love is extravagant

Spread wide in the arms of Christ is the love that covers sin
No greater love have I ever known You considered me a friend
Capture my heart again

Spread wide in the arms of Christ is the love that covers sin
No greater love have I ever known; You considered me a friend

If you’re like me, this has been a thought-provoking week.

The reader-response to this week’s mysilentscream.com had me thinking long and hard about the depth of our drama, the taste of our of trauma, and the deep pit in which some of our hidden pain resides.

Next week we’ll take a look at how to deal with our anger.

As this week concludes this ancient song — known as Psalm 51 — continues to echo through my mind as a prayer to God for help. 1

Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love.

I love Bela Fleck and the Flecktones!

Great musicianship, sweet solos, unique instrumentation and a smooth sound.

A year old, but this is a great Bela Fleck and the Flecktones show that you might enjoy too.

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones Live at Weesner Family Amphitheater – MN Zoo

I don’t know if you’ll like the Robert Randolph & the Family Band, but I love them, especially live!

Here’s a concert from the 2011 North Sea Jazz Festival. 

They’re not live, but this live recording captures their fun, energy, and musicianship.

I think you’ll enjoy their show.
I hope that you’ll enjoy their show.

If you really like them, you might want to catch them on tour currently scheduled at the Minnesota Zoo on July 29th.

My friend Rachel challenged me to think today. Do you think about right and wrong? How do you decide what’s right and wrong? Specifically, how do you decide if a movie or a song is appropriate for you? Not the style of music or movie, the content.

Wow, have I had to battle with myself about this question!

Principles:

1 – I choose not to casually listen to “worship” music as background music because I don’t want to trivialize worship.