Date: 2016-03-02
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Continued...I Was Brought to My Senses ¢ Sting is one of my all-time favorite artists, and I could have chosen any number of his songs as a solo artist or during his time with The Police. His Mercury Falling album, and this song in particular, is about appreciating nature, the changing of the seasons, and relationships. Although the song wasn¢t a big hit for him, I absolutely love it¢¦especially while listening to it out in nature.One of his fans perhaps said it best¢¦¢I think this is just one of the most beautiful songs in the world. Lyrically, musically, the voice, the guitar...It's about when you first fall in love with someone and suddenly the world is brighter and more beautiful. You notice everything and just appreciate it all. The first verse he is wondering what could happen between them, he sees the birds, takes it as a sign, and makes his move. The rest of the song is that first morning after telling her he loves her. He sees everything even more clearly and wonders why he did not notice the rest of the signs before.¢I especially like the lyrics, ¢I walked out this morning¢¦it was like a veil had been removed from before my eyes. For the first time I saw the work of heaven, in the line where the hills had been married to the sky. And all around me every blade of singing grass, was calling out your name and that our love would always last.¢ The song, and that line in particular, remind me of an awesome God who created the sky, mountains, and grass¢¦and of an awesome lady who God also created and gave to me as a very special gift.Paradise ¢ Coldplay¢s Chris Martin explains that the album Mylo Xyloto is a story. ¢It's supposed to be about two people who grow up separately in a very big oppressive city, and they each are a bit lost in their lives. The pair meet in a gang and fall in and out of love before getting back together at the end. Paradise is about a girl really, the female half of the album, just about being a bit lost in the world and escaping through fantasy."The girl in the song has high expectations for life and dreams about them. But she grows ups, faces difficulties, and becomes disillusioned. Ultimately, she responds with optimism and hope for the future¢¦¢I know the sun must set to rise.¢I suspect thru-hiking the AT is something like that¢¦high expectations, followed by difficulties and some disillusionment. That's followed by optimism, hope, and perseverance¢¦or pessimism, hopelessness, and quitting. I¢m hoping for the former, so that I can reach the final summit singing, ¢Para-para-paradise, Para-para-paradise, oh oh oh oh, oh-oh-oh-oh.¢Give Me Your Eyes ¢ Last but certainly not least is perhaps my favorite song of all-time (slightly edging out Don¢t Stop Believin¢). The song's meaning originated with a discussion between Brandon Heath and his friend and fellow songwriter, Jason Ingram. ¢We had a conversation over Chinese food that we wished we could have God¢s perspective on things", Heath said. "If we did have His perspective, we'd wish we could have it for long periods of time, rather than just for a few seconds. That was the beginning."What a powerful concept¢¦wanting to see the world as God would, and having a desire to view people with more compassion. We¢¦well, let me just say I, have a real tendency to go through the day focused on myself. Am I comfortable? What and when will I eat next? Am I happy? Are all my needs being met? Jesus, on the other hand, went through life focused on the needs of others, showing compassion at every turn.In 1 Corinthians 9:19, Paul says, ¢Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.¢ Making oneself a slave to everyone is a foreign concept in the self-centered, big ego, materialistic world we live in today. Few choose Christ and His others-centered path, which may be why it¢s called the narrow path.So my hope is that this song will remind me, every morning, to try to live a little more like Jesus. ¢Give me your eyes for just one second.?Give me your eyes so I can see,?everything that I keep missing.? Give me your love for humanity.?Give me your arms for the broken-hearted¢¦ones that are far beyond my reach. Give me your heart for the ones forgotten. Give me your eyes so I can see.¢I¢d say that¢s pretty good advice to end an AT thru-hike playlist with¢¦and a blog.P.S. 10 days till launch!