Skip to main content
One of my favorite musicians is a man who doesn’t always get the credit he deserves for being a top-notch songwriter. Many of his songs are upbeat with lots of instruments, and I suppose he’s a goofy guy. But I heard one of his songs yesterday (though not for the first time) and I knew I had to blog about it. Let me state it this way: Have you noticed how many songs there are about broken families? It seems like there are a lot of them. Or maybe I gravitate toward them. In either case, a man I appreciate whom I have met, Jason Mraz, wrote a song called, “Love For A Child” on his 2008 release. Divorce is the theme, but he does it subtly in parts, so that you’re not driven away. He writes poignantly,

When the house was left in shambles
Who was there to handle all the broken bits of glass?
Was it mom who put my dad out on his ass, or the other way around?
Well, I’m far too old to care about that now.

[Me talking] The thing is, though, we never are too old to care. It’s even possible that we weren’t there or aware when it took place. Still, it affects us, it hurts us deeply. Jason Mraz knows this, and he’s letting us into that awareness. I don’t know if it’s autobiographical or not, but it could be. He continues in the chorus,

What about takin’ this empty cup
And fillin’ it up
With a little bit more of innocence?
I haven’t had enough, it’s probably because
When you’re young, it’s OK to be easily ignored
I’d like to believe it was all about
Love for a child.

[Me] A song well worth your time and reflection.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

We Don't Need No Magisterium: (Jason's Version) (But Actually, We Do)

Hilarious Com-Box Quote of The Day: "I was caught immediately because it is the Acts of the Apostles, not the Acts of the Holy Spirit Acting Erratically."--Donald Todd, reacting to the inartful opposition of the Holy Spirit and the Magisterium. Mark Galli, an editor at Christianity Today, had suggested that today's "confusion" in evangelicalism replicates a confusion on the day of Pentecost. Mr. Todd commented after this reply , and the original article is here. My thoughts: By what means was this Church-less "consensus" formed? If the Council did not possess the authority to adjudicate such questions, who does? If the Council Fathers did not intend to be the arbiters, why do they say that they do? At the risk of being rude, I would define evangelicalism as, "Whatever I want or need to believe at any particular time." Ecclesial authority to settle a particular question is a step forward, but only as long as, "God alone is Lord of the con...

What I Should Have Said

 I was functionally fired from my teaching job in November, 2024, after an unjust administrative "process" initiated by HR , and triggered by false accusations the content of which I was never told. My "defense" therefore could have no reasonable basis or direction. I won't say the name of the Local Education Agency, but the town where I lived and worked was Cheraw, South Carolina. I think that once I was on administrative leave, they could use nearly any indiscretion of mine as the final straw to remove me. I did connect with students on social media in protest, and I did express hope that I would quickly be returned to the classroom. The principal of the high school where I worked--a true lackey of the bureaucracy, and fully committed to educational ideas, methods, and solutions that don't work--also allowed his personal dislike of me to take the form of a belief that I was a substandard teacher. He gave me an unsatisfactory review on October 12, and we ha...

Who Is Out Here Having Sex And Children With People They Don’t Like?

 And look, I’m not married. I’ve never been married. I have no children. I didn’t choose that; things just worked out that way. If you must know, I haven’t had sexual intercourse either. I probably should say “coitus,” so I am not arguing with some progressive activist about what “sexual intercourse” means. But I figured out from influencer videos or something what a “dead bedroom” was. Unless a couple mutually agrees that they don’t want to have sex/coitus anymore (hopefully to pray and serve) this is usually bad. I’ve known enough couples that it’s probably an indicator of trouble, especially for couples who are still able to have children. Is it really that wild to at least hope that Mr. and Mrs. Vance love each other? That a fourth child yet born at least might indicate that they enjoy each other?  Children are definitely not responsible for their parents’ happiness. That’s absolutely true. But wouldn’t any child hope their parents were happy, when they came into being? As...