Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Walk Of Life" (Dire Straits)

Hello again, hello!  Welcome to a joyful day!  This is a day just waiting for you to find the humor around every corner, the laughter waiting somewhere down the road, and the elation of getting to experience it all.  Welcome to Tuesday!!!  It's time for Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!  Welcome to your new happy place!!!

If you watch very much reality television, you realize very quickly, that the people involved consider themselves to be on a journey.  With every elimination, getting voted off the island, not receiving the rose, you see someone, usually very emotional, talk about the thankfulness that they have had for the experience and describing their 15 minutes of fame as a "journey".  Here at The Notes, we choose to think of a "journey" as something that is significantly longer than a television semiseason.  In fact, the lives that we are blessed to receive while on this planet should be looked at through the lens of totality.  Only this way, can you see one's real journey as a...walk of life.

"Walk Of Life" - Dire Straits from the 1985 #1 album Brothers In Arms - US video  

and here's what the journey looks like in Great Britain

"Walk Of Life" - Dire Straits from the 1985 #1 album Brothers In Arms - United Kingdom video 

For a 9 week period in 1985, Dire Strait's album Brothers in Arms sailed into the #1 spot on the Billboard weekly ranking.  Riding the waves of popularity from their first hit single, "Sultans Of Swing" from 1978's Dire Straits, and combined by the strength of the #1 single "Money For Nothing", which was one of MTV's most often played videos in 1985, Dire Straits saw overnight success as Brothers In Arms became the first album to sell over 1 million of the relatively new (remember this was 1985) cd format.  The cd is now 33 years old and its sales have slowed in recent years due to the explosion of streaming and digital downloads.  The Notes is not convinced that we have seen the end of the cd's "Walk Of Life".  (Here's a fascinating article from 2012 that provides a little more insight into the cd:  The Compact Disc Turns 30 - CNN.com September 28, 2012). 

The producer of Brothers In Arms did not want to include "Walk of Life" on the album, however, he was outvoted by the band and the song found its way to #7 on Billboard's Hot 100.  It's upbeat, instantly recognized synthesizer introduction,  reference to some of Rock-N-Roll's great songs, and the "sporty" nostalgia of its US video makes "Walk Of Life" one of those rare songs that causes a smile to come on your face and a tap to begin in your toe. 

In the chaotic world which we live, this type of song is far too uncommon.  It is a song that draws the listener in as it is a better, more joyful alternative to much of the angst driven, sappy break-up, songs that populate iTunes and what is left of the airwaves.  When given the opportunity for airtime, these joy-ridden songs become instant classics and extremely popular.  "Don't Worry Be Happy", "Walking On Sunshine" (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Walking On Sunshine"), or the more recent "Happy" are all songs the exude the confidence and emotions that most wish to embrace.  So many times, however, we don't allow ourselves to have the alternative to sorrow and pain.  We don't choose joy.

Dictionary.com defines joy as "the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation".  It is an emotion that so many people in our world are seeking.  As always, Tuesday's Musical Notes defaults to the Bible as our source for defining this emotion.  As we study this word in The Word, we must be cautious as we soon find that far too many "Christian" folks don't choose to embrace the joy that God provides.

187 - the number of times "joy" or a derivative is used in the King James Version of the Bible

242 - the number of times "joy" or a derivative is used in the New International Version of the Bible
211 - the number of times "joy" or a derivative is used in the New American Standard Version of the Bible

124 - the number of times "joy" or a derivative is used in The Message paraphrase of the Bible

         and for perspective...

15 - the number of times "hell" or a derivative is used in the New International Version of the Bible

Based on these numbers, what should be the focus for the Christian life?  Why do we live the Christian life more concerned about attempting to stay out of hell when God's Word instructs us to live as David who begged God to daily restore the "joy of our salvation"?  What testimony do each of these lifestyles portray to the pre-Christians we interact with daily?  If you were at your local shopping center, could you be identified as a Christian because of your joy?  In a world filled with darkness, do you think you might stand out if the light of your joy was evident?   

Let's face it.  Most folks don't want to be set apart from the crowd.  But in 1 Peter we are instructed to do just that.

1 Peter 2:9

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;  (King James Version)

We live in a world that is on the fast track to a place where God does not exist.  We live in a world that has as its main temptation a good life filled with all the trappings one may amass.  We show folks through the praise of the One who has called us out of darkness in to His MARVELOUS light that there is a better alternative.  This joy-filled alternative should be so attractive, that those living in the "world" around us want to have what we have.  Peace, joy, and ultimately an unconditional love are all things that we as created beings crave.  It is in the DNA that God spoke into existence.  If we as Christians will begin exuding the joy of our salvation, showing the peace in the midst of the storms of our lives, and love others as God loves us (regardless of their political affiliation, cultural background, sexual preference, or any of the other "discriminatory" things that are outlawed for hiring purposes), others will soon be drawn to us, allowing for the explanation of our joy.  God can draw people to Himself and use us as the magnets if we will only allow the incredible emotion of joy to come through our...walk of life...ooo woo hoo.

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving You,

Randy