Song Spotlight: "Where I Began"

Song Title: Where I Began
Artist: Caedmon's Call
Album: 40 Acres
Writer: Aaron Tate

The grass looked greener on the other side
So I tried to, snatch myself from your hand
Caught a boat to anywhere but Nineveh
And, well you know, I got spit back on dry land.

Give me purity and give me continence
But oh no, not yet.
Like a coin hiding in the corner
Trying not to be swept
And I was trying not to be swept.

Kicking against these goads
Sure did cut up my feet
And didn't your hands get bloody
As you washed them clean (you washed them!),

Chorus:
Here I am again, back where I began
Try as I may I can't get away from you
And all of these roads lead me to roam,
Bring me back home.
Here I am again, back where I began.

Verse 2:
So you have yourself your ninety nine (ninety nine),
Isn't that enough for you?
Still you followed me to the shadowed valley
Carried me on your shoulders too.

I've done the work of Sisyphus
Thinking that I could get over this hill
But the one thing I can't get over now...(is the)
Is the force of your will.

Chorus x2

Why This Song: Let me start by saying this: if I was to pick one song to best describe my life thus far, I think I would pick this one. The funny thing about this song is that I probably listened to it dozens of times a few years ago without really knowing the lyrics -- I could sing along to about 75% of it or so and coast through the rest. Then, after finally looking up the lyrics and looking some of the lyrics up in the dictionary, I immediately identified with the song, as it finally had meaning -- and what a meaning it has! I picked this song today for no particular reason, but I heard it recently and recalled how much I love it.

Why I like it: The part I like the most is obviously how well I indentify with it. Also, this little song is soaked with Scripture -- and I definitely enjoy when the songs I sing are filled with the very words of God, directly or indirectly. I like the music with it as well, a fast-paced upbeat song. Finally, I have to admit I had to look some words up in the dictionary. And I like that.

Dictionary Time: 1.) contience (noun) - self-restraint or abstinence, esp. in regard to sexual activity; temperance; moderation......2.) goad (noun) - a long stick with a pointed end used for prodding animals......3.) Sisyphus (noun - Classical Mythology) a son of Aeolus and ruler of Corinth, noted for his trickery: he was punished in Tartarus by being compelled to roll a stone to the top of a slope, the stone always escaping him near the top and rolling down again.

What This Song is not About: Let's not get confused and take things too literally. This song does not describe a 'Christian' who is fighting with all his might to abandon the faith completely, only to be stopped over and over by the force of God.

What I Believe This Song is About: Well, since I've said it describes my life, I hope I can figure this out. I think it describes the Christian life wonderfully. Sometimes we catch ourselves living in a way or acting in a way that we shouldn't, way more often than we probably care to admit, and it is as though we are actually running from God! We'll go back to this sin or this behavior or this attitude over and over again, but somehow we end up back underneath the cross ready to accept the forgiveness already given to us -- all by the grace of God. How often do we try and take ourselves out of the hand of the Father when he has promised that no one can take us out? Jonah fought like crazy to not do what God wanted him to do -- and in the end, he did what God wanted him to . Oh, how we want purity! And then the next day we don't! God doesn't stop loving us when we are hiding or running but instead fights all the more to get us to come back....see the parable of the prodigal son and the lost coin and the lost sheep. And finally, haven't we all done the work of Sisyphus, trying so hard to do the impossible by our own power - over and over again? God will keep his children coming back to him again and again no matter what we do to lose our way, and I thank my God for his wonderful grace on a wretch like me.

Related Scripture: Luke 15, John 10:27-30, Jonah

Favorite Line: " And all of these roads lead me to roam, Bring me back home" -- I have to admit that's pretty creative, so I like it, since I'm not very creative myself. But is it true? Just because the song says so or I agree doesn't mean that it is. Something to think about.