In high school, even before my conversion, I loved writing papers about religious symbolism in books. I think it actually drove one of my teachers nuts. I’d find symbolism and God in a book that seemingly had nothing to do with God. I was convinced that I could find God anywhere, so my love for finding Him in the lyrics of seemingly secular songs is no big surprise. I’m forever convinced that He is everywhere; in fact, it is one of my favorite things about Him.
Rock or Knock: Rock.
Song: Blindfolded
Artist: Kris Allen
Lyrics:
Walking through this strange and crowded place
Imagining your face, fighting my way through
Oh I feel you getting close with every step
With all that I have left I’m reaching out for you
If I was blindfolded
If my memory was erased
If every sign pointed to another place
I’d still find you
I will still find you
I’d still find you
If I was blindfolded
My fingers trace the outline of your shape
and recognize the way you pull me into you
oh you’re calling out to me not saying a thing
you’re everything I need and all that I could never, ever lose
(chorus)
You’re the gravity that’s taken hold of me
every time I lose my way it’s the chemistry
more than eyes can see
and no matter where I am
I will still find you
I will still find you
(chorus)
The first few times I listened to this song I really liked it, it has a fun beat and is certainly quite catchy. Then one day it hit me: it is about God! Now that I see Him in it I wonder how I ever missed Him in the lyrics!
We spend our lives walking through this strange and crowded place. We wonder what His face even looks like, we imagine Him and while I can’t speak for you, I certainly imagine Him leading me, even if I can’t see His face. I feel myself getting closer to Him with ever step, and I feel Him growing closer to me the more my heart longs for Him. With all that I have left, with all that I am, I reach out for Him, no matter how strange and crowded this place becomes.
The chorus is what I hope for my life. It reminds me of a prayer of St. John Chrysostom where he prays that even if his tongue should forget to praise God, he hopes that every heart beat would be a prayer of thanksgiving. Even if I was blindfolded I hope I would still search for God, for we walk by faith, not by sight. If my memory was erased, His truth would still be written on my heart, His love would remain, constant and true as it ever was. If every sign pointed to another place (which, if I was blindfolded I wouldn’t be able to read the signs anyway…) my heart would know the way home to Him. Doesn’t the world already shows us zillions of different signs pointing to different things? There is only one sign I want to follow, the one that leads me Home. No matter what I’d still find Him. I’d still search for Him because He is all I want and all I need.
Okay, so maybe my fingers don’t trace the outline of God’s shape, but I certainly recognize the way He pulls me into Him, how He searches for me, romances my heart and calls me back to Himself. He doesn’t need to say a thing. He is, and has always been everything I need and all that I could never, ever lose. He is the gravity that has taken hold of my heart, He holds on to me every time I lose my way – which is quite often. He pulls me back to Himself.
No matter where I am I will still find You, oh Lord, because You never lose sight of me.
What I’m Listening To:
“Blindfolded” by Kris Allen
“I Drive Your Truck” by Lee Brice
“See About A Girl” by Lee Brice
“Lift Me Up” by The Afters
