What’s a song that changed your life?
Music is a key part of my life. I have played the piano since I was 10. I began directing choirs at the age of 15. There is not much of my life that doesn’t have a song attached to it. In fact, most pivotal moments definitely have a song attached to them.
My first memory of a theme song was during the Summer of 1996. Alanis Morissette’s “You Learn” was my friend group’s theme song. Please don’t judge! We devoured several songs from her “Jagged Little Pill” CD. We were all learning tough high school lessons and suffering losses that Summer. The song seemed all too appropriate.
In 1999, God was calling me away from a church I was serving. This precious church was paying my tuition. These people gave to me in abundance. Walking away would be a slap in the face to many. But as I started sensing there were major philosophical differences between us, I prayed heavily. It was during that moment that the song “The Strength of the Lord” carried me.
When God was calling me away from my first full-time ministry in 2009, David Cook’s “The Time of My Life” became a theme song. I heard it at a graduation, and I knew in my spirit that we would be making the greatest move ever despite leaving some wonderful people behind. While this song is not Christian, it clicked.
In 2012, the song that carried me through my departure from the most fruitful ministry I had ever known was Kathy Troccoli’s “My Life Is In Your Hands.” I can’t tell you how many times I wept to that song as I sensed in my spirit what could be the most devastating move I had ever made.
When divorce hit my life and ministry looked uncertain, the song “Help Me Find It” by Sidewalk Prophets became my prayer. It remained my prayer for several months into the transition.
The day I knew God was beginning to end my season as a hospice chaplain, “Hallelujah” by Carrie Underwood and John Legend was playing in the background. I still listen and feel the bittersweet emotions associated with that change.
The most recent song was “I Believe” by Charity Gayle that helped me through leaving another ministry I loved to walk yet again into the unknown. Those lyrics assured me of God’s provision and direction.
All of these songs and more have changed my life. Last week, I listened to many songs from the 1980s and 90s that my Mom played. These songs shaped my love for music. I could go on and on. As I look back, I am thankful for each song and for the talent God gave each musician to perform it.
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