03.23.2023 | Monday in Lent

Music, Memories, and Johnny Cash
 
We enjoyed a wonderful tribute to the music of Johnny Cash at the Repertory Theatre of Saint Louis on Sunday. From his beginnings in the 1950s, Johnny wowed fans with his unmistakable sound. He was a bit of a hero to this old man in his younger days. I loved the music, the stories, and that outsider image he wore so well.
 
Rooted in rural America, country music has long served as a vessel for expressing deeply held beliefs, values, and experiences of faith and spirituality. The country music of my youth was woven from memory and meaning, not just nostalgia, but a way of honoring those who came before us, the land we love, our rituals, and the seasons of our lives.
 
As I sat in the audience listening to the lyrics of “Man in Black,” I felt a moment of reverence in the act of remembering. The words ring truer today than ever. The music felt thoughtful and grounded in the world we’re living in. “I’d love to wear a rainbow every day… but until things are better, I’m the man in black.”
 
It’s the stories that bring back a quiet remembering. A moment of gratitude as the music becomes a way of keeping what matters alive. You don’t have to be overtly religious to feel a kind of reverence in this music, a deep connection to something spiritual, a uniquely human way of touching the soul of both the artist and the listener.
 
The music brings a bit of melancholy to my memories this morning. I’m remembering those who are no longer here, the people who introduced me to Johnny Cash and so many others. Those who shaped me in ways I’m still discovering. Their influence continues to echo in the person I am today.
 
So here I sit, surrounded by music, memories, and Johnny Cash as this Monday morning in Lent moves forward. Today I remember. Today I am a little sad. And today I am grateful for those who came before me and loved me into who I am. “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.” — Psalm 77:11–12