Profound Scriptural Insights - [Tim]
Speaking of Bono, I've been reading this book, Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas. It's basically a really long interview with Bono and it has tons of great insights and quotes. Here he's talking with Michka about Jesus and Christianity...Michka had said something about how he feels religious sometimes without knowing it, to which Bono replies,"...You're like one of the Three Wise Men, the Magi who were studying the stars, with nothing religious on your mind! And you're looking at your maps, going: [gets into a comedy routine] 'Here it is...OK, it should be over here...There's something funny going on over there...Is it the aurora borealis? No, it's a single star. My coordinates suggest: we must go this way. OK, something should be happening extraordinary round about...[pauses for dramatic effect] there. Oh shit, what's this? A little baby! Oh, we stepped into the Christmas story, I thought I was reading astronomy.'"
Sounds like how a lot of us found God and Grace - God surprises us when we least expect it. Oh shit, He found me! And He's different then I expected. How freaking cool!
[ping]
posted by Etcetera at 11:55 AM
7 Comments:
That reminds me of a story that Jerry Gaskill of King's X wrote. It's too long to post, but you might find it interesting reading.
Here is a profound, though less spiritual in the eyes of many non Canadians quote from the Edge in Toronto for the week...
"I've seen hockey on TV many times," he said. "I'm just amazed by it. Incredible. Men dressing up as automobiles and crashing into one another."
A fine definition indeed!
Is anyone a Rush fan? Has anyone ever noticed how much Neil Peart thinks like a Christian, even when he doesn't realize it?
He's written two excelent books since the tragedies of losing his wife and daughter, and even though he blast Christians some of time, I'll read something and think, "OK...how are you not a Christian?"
I guess it's like Gandi said of Christianity, "I like it's Christ but not it's Christian."
Me thinks the Hound of Heaven is after him...I hope anyway.
I am a big Rush fan, and I think I see what you're saying. However, I'm not sure I would come to the same conclusion.
Consider "Sweet Miracle" as an example. While he uses the term salvation (a Christian term), the whole of the song seems to be anti-supernatural.
Also, basically the entire "Roll the Bones" album is about chance.
That being said, I hope I'm wrong.
Before the tragedies, yes he pretty much was a skeptical meterialist, but let me give two examples of what I'm mean: 1) Near the end of Ghost Rider there is scene where he visits a street Tarot Card reader. He is so immpressed with the accuracy of the reader he write's something to the effect of, "There has to be something beyound the natural. This couldn't simply be a coincidence." 2) In his latest book Traveling Music there is scene where , in 96 (pre-tragedies) they were riding thier bikes and stop some where and a woman was berating her husband about his driving saying, "You're working them angels overtime." In the next paragraph he writes in the present, " I didn't believe in 'them angles' but if I did have them I guess I kept them pretty busy." If he still didn't belive in "them angles" there would be no reason for the past tense.
Given the things he have happened to him even before he wrote the lyrics to sweet, I don't think Sweet Miricle is anti-supernatural. I think it is his way of trying to come to terms with his new found "faith." And I use the term very loosely
When I began to craft my initial response to your comment, I had a somewhat similar perspective. However, as I reread the lyrics to "Sweet Miracle", my mind was changed. He seems to be saying that while it may look like I'm doing something spiritual, I have a very physical explanation.
Regarding Traveling Music, it would seem very normal for him to use past tense to describe an event that happened in the past. However, I don't have the advantage of knowing the context. So, you may have insight into the style the book is written in that reveals that there may be something to your theory.
If your hope is derived from the mere fact that he's even dealing with the idea of the supernatural, then I admit that's an improvement of his previous tendency to dismiss it a priori.
I have to admit, several songs on Vapor Trails seem to have a hint of spiritual seeking in the lyrics. "Stars Look Down" perhaps gives me the most pause. He seems to be admitting that it's silly for any of us to think we have any significant control over our lives. That's certainly an about face from the lyrics of Freewill.
Losing both your closest family members within a year or so--especially watching one of them implode emotionally before slowly deteriorating physically--would cause most anyone to rethink their view of life, whatever it was.
I didn't know you posted on here too Tim!
I'm going to finish this book as soon as I get done with Plan B.
It's hard though. I already love Bono so much, I have to read this book in increments...
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