Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Comfortably Numb" (Pink Floyd)

Welcome to Tuesday!!!  It's that time again.....let's get started!!!

As we transition into another fall season,  the weather is becoming much more comfortable.  In our part of the world the distress of the heat and humidity of summer are replaced by  cooler temperatures and drier air that is extremely welcomed.  The Notes confesses that this season is our favorite.  The demeanor of folks that we encounter seems more pleasant and it becomes easier, perhaps even more comfortable to have conversations of merit.  With Autumn comes the completed harvest of delicious foods and the urgency that Christmas is just around the corner.  While usually a very busy time for many, it certainly bodes well for opportunities of extended relaxation and moments of reflection.  Sunrises seem more beautiful.....sunsets more picturesque.  It's just a great time of the year!!! 

From the musical business perspective, fall is a great time of the year as well.  Many pre-iTunes artists realized that the best opportunity for people to listen to entire albums would be when their activities were more centered on being inside.  They also wanted to have their releases out in time for the 4th quarter, the season that typically is the best for sales due to Christmas gift giving.  Such was the case in November of 1979, when a British band found themselves up against The Wall.  By the way....which one of you is "Pink"?

Pink Floyd - "Comfortably Numb"

Known for theatrical stage shows and thought provoking, psychedelic lyrics, the band Pink Floyd has established musical recording history.  With over 250 million albums sold world wide, it is rare that a listener to popular music has not been exposed to either a David Gilmour guitar solo or a Roger Waters lyric.  One of the best examples of this is their 1979 release The Wall.  The album alone has sold over 23 million copies and is placed at #87 on the Rolling Stone's - 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list 

Many guitar enthusiasts consider Gilmour's 2 solos in the single "Comfortably Numb" to be some of the best solos by any instrumentalist ever.  This is of course is open to myriad debate, however, the guitar solos make "Comfortably Numb"  easily one of the best recognized songs from The Wall album....2nd only to the title track.  

There are many dangers in our Christian walk.  One of the greatest is getting comfortable.  We make a decision to trust Jesus for our eternal salvation, join and become involved in a church and then suddenly we find ourselves in the "routine" of doing church.  It is an easy trap of the enemy and one that all of us face at one time or another.  If we are not careful, we can find ourselves in a position of being comfortably numb.  We are so busy doing the things of the church that we can't see the need for the church all around us. 

It is equally dangerous for us to become very judgemental in our comfort.  We've all seen churches that want to point an accusatory finger in the faces of sinners and tell them to repent.   This is not the model that Jesus portrayed throughout His life. In The Gospels we consistently see a man who is extending a hand of love and compassion, not a finger of accusation, all while telling people to repent from their sin and accept His salvation.  (Matthew 8:1-13, 

Mark 1:29-45, Luke 17: 11-19, John 4:1-26 ) 

Even after salvation, the need for repentance still exists.  Our self centered nature must be taken captive every day if we want to live in the victory that Jesus has already attained for us.  Each day is a new opportunity for us to share Jesus' love and compassion and remember that our existence is not about us....it's about Him.  Jesus served others....that is our example....Living for Him is a moment by moment challenge to overcome the sin that so easily besets us.  Without being vigilant in our walk daily, we tempt the opportunity to become comfortably numb....Hello....is anybody in there?

'Til Tuesday,

Loving HIM by loving you,

Randy