To say music is powerful is an understatement.
This last Sunday Brandon and I saw our favorite band Switchfoot in concert. It was truly a powerful experience. I think because they are a local band they gave their San Diego fans the treat of hearing their brand-new album played back-to-back in its entirety. And then they proceeded to play one song from each of their other albums. As we journeyed through their musical history I was hit by how each album represented an important stage in my life. Switchfoot is the one musical entity that has unknowingly journeyed with me throughout my entire adult life, bringing gifts of hope, motivation, humility, and insight. In a way, they have helped me understand my story. So just as my life story can be seen through my favorite books, so can pieces of it be seen through Switchfoot songs. Here's a look at our journey...
Chem 6A (from The Legend of Chin): a class I actually took at UCSD freshman year!
"I don't know what love is
And I don't know who I am
And if I ever wanna find out
I'll watch the movie
Cuz it's not me
I'm just like everybody else my age"
Only Hope (from New Way to be Human): the soundtrack to pictures of my life on our wedding video
"Sing to me the song of the stars
Of your galaxy dancing and laughing and laughing again
When it feels like my dreams are so far
Sing to me of the plans that you have for me over again
And I lay my head back down
And I lift my hands and pray-
to be only yours
I pray to be only yours
I know now your my only hope"
The Economy of Mercy (from Learning to Breathe): this spoke to my brokenness while living in Virginia
"In the economy of mercy
I am a poor and begging man
In the currency of grace
Is where my song begins
In the colors of Your goodness
In the scars that mark Your skin
In the currency of grace
Is where my song begins"
On Fire (from The Beautiful Letdown): what I clung to the summer I was engaged and working my first nursing job
"And I'm on fire when You're near me
I'm on fire when You speak
I'm on fire burning at these mysteries
I'm standing on the edge of me,
I'm standing on the edge of everything I've ever been
And I've been standing at the edge of me, standing
At the edge"
The Shadow Proves the Sunshine (from Nothing is Sound): again, meeting me in my Virginia brokenness
"Sunshine, won't you be my mother
Sunshine, come and help me sing
My heart is darker than these oceans
My heart is frozen underneath
We are crooked souls trying to stay up straight,
Dry eyes in the pouring rain well
The shadow proves the sunshine
The shadow proves the sunshine"
Faust, Midas, and Myself (from Oh! Gravity.): a provocative song that gave me motivation to pick up the pieces after the darkness had passed and we were back in California (I just had to include the whole song...)
"This one’s about a dream
I had last night
How an old man tracked me home
And stepped inside
Put his foot inside the door
And gave a crooked smile
Something in his eyes
Something in his laugh
Something in his voice
That made my skin crawl off
Said I’ve seen you here before
I know your name
How you could have your pick
Of pretty things
You could have it all
Everything at once
Everything you’ve seen
Everything you’ll need
Everything you’ve ever had in fantasies
You have one life
You have one life
One life left to lead
You have one life
You have one life
One life left to lead
I woke up from my dream
As a golden man
The Girl I’ve never seen
With Golden skin
I jump up to my feet
She asked me what was wrong
I began to scream
I don’t think this is me
Is this just a dream?
Or really happening, happening
You have one life
You have one life
One life left to lead
You have one life
You have one life
One life left to lead
What direction
What direction
I’m spinning up
I’m spinning up
This is my personal disaffection
What direction
What Direction
What Direction now
I looked outside the glass
At golden shores
Golden ships and masts
With golden cords
As my reflection passed
I hated what I saw
The Golden eyes were dead
A thought passed through my head
A heart that is made of gold can’t really beat at all
I wanted to wake up again
I wanted to wake up again
Without a touch of gold
Without a touch of gold
What direction
What direction
What direction
What direction
Life begins at the intersection
What direction
What direction
What direction
What direction
I woke up as before
But the gold was gone
My wife was at the door
With a night robe on
My heart beat once or twice
And life flooded my veins
Everything had changed
My lungs had found their voice
And what was once routine
Was now the perfect joy
You have one life
You have one life
One life left to lead
You have one life
You have one life
One life left to lead"
Still waiting to find a favorite on their new album Hello Hurricane...
Does anyone else have music that tells their stories?
...for new life this year. 
As we went around the dinner table today with family and friends to share what we were thankful for, it was only too easy and obvious for me to choose my son. But really, I can't even begin to express how overwhelmed I am with love and gratitude for my dear Soren Gabriel. Every day I look at him with awe and just can't get over the miracle that this little person, unique and all his own, came from Brandon and me. Our love for each other gave birth to a new person that will have his own place in this world. 
He will have hobbies, talents, friends, adventures, and--I struggle to say it--a wife someday. God has entrusted to Brandon and me the enormous and incredible gift of raising and loving this new life into adulthood. Wow. Thank you God. May we honor you with your most tremendous gift to us.
