On a business trip to Nashville a few months ago, Carrie and I had an interesting experience with a Lyft driver. As we’ve accustomed ourselves to using ride share apps to get around in other cities, we’ve noticed how different the drivers can be. Some say nothing, in some cases because they may speak little English. Service levels vary, with some playing whatever music they like and (rarely) others asking if you prefer silence or a different style. Maybe once or twice someone has asked if the vehicle temperature was comfortable. One driver reeked of pot and volunteered that he had been driving all night—about 12 hours—and we were probably his last ride. (We hoped it would not be our last.)
But our driver this day in Tennessee was of the more social type. She was an enthusiastic African American woman, and as we talked we learned she was a Christian. She told us she was a songwriter and asked if we’d like to hear one of her songs. We gave polite assent, at which her song immediately started playing. It was only a minute or two in that we realized it wasn’t streaming through her stereo as we’d assumed. She was singing a cappella live, as she drove. And she was belting it out with gusto! While her driving was a bit wild, we made sure to tip well for her unexpected performance after we arrived at our destination.
What stuck out to me was that this woman had songs in her heart and she was ready to let them out at the slightest indication of interest. Not everyone has that going on. Carrie is not extraverted like our Lyft driver was, but she always has a song going on in her heart. Seriously, I can just ask her anytime, “What’s playing now?” and she’ll name the tune.
The Bible encourages music and song, and speaks of God giving people songs in the night. For those who recall Keith Green, a talented songwriter in the early days of contemporary Christian music, the memorable refrain of one of his songs included, “You put this song in my heart.” The Psalms are full of references to singing as praise and worship to God, telling us to sing for joy, to make a joyful noise, to make a loud noise, to sing praise (Psalm 5:11, 98:4).
Paul encourages Christians in Ephesians 5:19 to be speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord. Similarly, in Colossians 3:16 he exhorts believers, Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Proverbs 17:22 says a merry heart does good like a medicine. What tunes are you playing inside you? Are you singing the blues, country woes, or something in a minor key? Or do your heart songs make you merry? The great thing is, you get to choose! What song will your heart sing today?
Loved your story, JB! I too always have a tune going in my head and/or heart. And when I don’t, my canaries take over! 🙂