Barefoot.

The other day, I asked my friend Winston, a songwriting major here, how he goes about writing a song. The brains behind Night Beds, he's written and recorded some pretty impressive tunes (although he won't admit it) and will be releasing them on iTunes within the year. Anyway, he described to me an exercise that he practiced in one of his classes: to think of an idea, place, person, or thing, and write everything you know about it. In his words, "vomit" on the page. And so "Barefoot" was born.

The story behind this: On campus, we have what we call "The Quad," an attractive area of grass and trees situated right in the middle of everything. My friends and I occasionally throw a frisbee or dribble a soccer ball in between classes, and every time I head out there, I kick off my shoes and enjoy what's beneath me (admittedly, this is destroying my feet). But it seems like when I lose my shoes, I lose my stress. The "cliff" bit in the song refers to an actual set of cliff at a nearby lake that Kern showed me to. Jumping off those things is so liberating. My surroundings: the trees, the water, the rocks, are so beautiful, and I really thank God for the nature that He's given us; it's always a retreat for me.

So here's what I "vomited" this evening :-)

Bare, I stand barefoot

The sand and rock and earth between my toes

And there, from where I look

God's wonderful creation lives and grows

Sometimes you gotta strip yourself

Of shoes and futures, worries, wealth

And smell the smell of green here in the air

'Cause what's the thrill in life concrete

Just shed the shield right off your feet

And jump off of a cliff with body bare!

MP3: Night Beds - There Was Enough/Rest

A friendship.

Big update.

So I've been at Belmont for a little over a month now and, truly, I've never felt closer to God. It's pretty amazing how environment can influence your faith. In particular, my resident assistant, Kern, has been such a blessing to me. Not only has he helped me ease into college life, but he invited me to a church called Lifehouse, and the service really shook me. The music, the worship... it was so powerful and joyful. At this point, I am talking out loud to God and I'm proud to call my relationship with Him a friendship.

So amongst all these influences, I've been writing like crazy. I've finished one, and I'm almost finished with two other pieces. This song here is called God in a Box. I was talking about the routine of worship with Kern, and he told me one of his friends said this: "Wouldn't it be great if we didn't try to put God in a Box?" This really stuck with me. And as I reflected on my own experiences, I realized that throughout my youth, I had done just that. As a "Sunday Christian," I was praying to God in a box and not outside of it. So this piece is somewhat biographical, but I think it applies to a lot of people.

"God in a Box"

He said, “I wanna put God, I wanna put our God in a box.

So I can praise Him on Sunday then dry myself out in the week.”

He said, “I wanna put God, I wanna put our God in a box.

And let the preacher pray for me so that I don’t ever have to speak.”

He said, “I wanna put God, I wanna put our God in a box.

So I can tell the world I love Him just to get a load of guilt off my chest.”

He said, “I wanna put God, I wanna put our God in a box.

Then I can take and take and take and take and take whenever fits best.”

But our Lord cannot be contained

Cannot be contained

In separate parts

Oh, our Lord has always remained

Will always remain

In our hearts

He said, “I wanna hold God, I wanna hold our God under locks.

So I can put Him on a pedestal and advertise the wealth that I’ve gained.”

But wouldn’t it be great, if we didn’t keep our God in a box?

Because I’ve felt Him working through me, and His presence cannot be contained!

Yes, our Lord cannot be contained

Cannot be contained

In separate parts

And our Lord has always remained

Will always remain

In our hearts

So, you can listen to the void

And ignore the sound of God when He knocks.

And you can try to tie Him down

You can try to measure love by the clocks.

But our Lord cannot be contained

We cannot put our God in a box.