Elizabeth Hunnicutt : Thoughts

So I was sitting in the office at church the other day getting ready for the weekend. I was putting together Scriptures that I would like to include on the side screens during the services and I started thinking about the verse that says,

"His mercies are new every morning…great is His faithfulness."

While I've heard that verse quoted a million times, I couldn't remember the reference. So I went into the office of one of the other worship leaders and asked him if he knew where it was. He didn't either, so we both started hunting around, and I went online to look it up. I was surprised to find that it is in the book of Lamentations.

Lamentations? It's with laments? Weird.

So I started reading the context that it was written in and I was shocked. Somehow every other time I had heard or read this text, I had missed everything that proceeded it. Here's what I found…

The author begins this chapter by saying:
"I am the one who has seen the afflictions that come from the rod of the Lord's anger. He has led me into darkness, shutting out all light. He has turned his hand against me again and again, all day long. He has made my skin and flesh grow old. He has broken my bones. He has besieged and surrounded me with anguish and distress. He has buried me in a dark place, like those long dead…"(Lamentations 3:1-6 NLT)

Doesn't sound like he's real happy, huh?

He later says:
"He has hidden like a bear or a lion, waiting to attack me. He has dragged me off the path and torn me in pieces, leaving me helpless and devastated. He has drawn his bow and made me the target for his arrows…He has made me chew on gravel. He has rolled me in the dust. Peace has been stripped away, and I have forgotten what prosperity is. I cry out, 'My splendor is gone! Everything I had hoped for from the Lord is lost!'"

Man, we've all felt like this. But how many of us have the guts to actually say this? And be this honest with God?
Hang on here…there's more he has to say…

"The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this:
'The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning." I say to myself, 'The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!'"

Wow. Now that's inspiring. He just got done venting about how horrible his life is…and how he isn't very happy with God right now (to put it lightly), and he says I STILL DARE TO HOPE.

When was the last time that you dared to hope? That you trusted that the faithfulness of God outweighed the darkness and sorrow of your life?

AND…when was the last time that you honestly came before God and poured your heart out to Him? That you told Him how you really felt…not just how you WANT to feel…or what you feel like you SHOULD say to Him?

I think that the book of Lamentations is a beautiful example of honesty and worship. In our modern day, its not very common to hear people singing laments. We tend to just sing about joy…but that's not reality all the time. There's a time to mourn.

Christ's strength is made perfect in our weakness. So let us bring all that we are to Him and DARE TO HOPE that His mercies are new every morning.

I heart Colorado

The fog is thick in Iowa. The headlights coming toward us have turned into yellow blurry circles of light. It's actually quite beautiful…other than the fact that it's hard to see where we're going…

Emilie (my road manager) and I are on our way back from Colorado, where I did a short run of shows this weekend. It was so great to be back in the state where I spent many of my growing years. I got to see lots of family and friends, which always makes performing even more fun!! I got to meet lots of new folks--and everyone was so hospitable!! Thanks to all of you who came out to the shows! It was great getting to meet you!! The weekend was full of wonderful moments and random run-ins with old friends at a Mongolian BBQ in downtown Denver (yes, I ran into 3 people I knew…weird…maybe God is calling me to Colorado??) I look forward to coming back soon…I can't seem to stay away from Colorado for very long :)

For now, it's back to Minneapolis, where a busy week is ahead. For those of you in the Twin Cities area, check out my concert listing--I have a few local shows coming up! It would be great to see you there!! Thanks for all of your amazing continual support!!!

Elizabeth

The existence of music

For some reason, the thought of this in the last few days has really hit me. Music exists. I know this seems crazy to be thinking about. It seems so basic and simple, but when you step back and think about it--I mean REALLY think about it--it blows your mind. Stick with me for a minute... we were given ears--these weird looking things on either side of our head that somehow detect sound waves in various volumes. Then, your ears interpret these sound waves according to pitch. They can be hearing multiple things at the same time. They can distinguish between your roommate's voice and the voice of your mom on the phone. Your ears along with your mind can interpret language and somehow understand what people are saying. And God decided to fill this world with all sorts of sounds for our ears to hear…birds singing, rushing rivers, the rain falling, thunder, the wind blowing through trees. We get to HEAR these things, and they are a vital part of us experiencing them.

So onto music…we get to hear, experience, and feel music. It is such a mystery to me. My ears hear notes and rhythms and somehow it stirs something in me. I hear an old song and I'm instantly transported back to my childhood and I can remember specific scenes out of my life where that song was playing on the radio. I buy a new CD and my ears eagerly devour the fresh sounds…the notes, melodies, lyrics, unexpected turns…there's nothing like the first listen of a new CD. One of my favorite things is long car trips by myself with a handful of new CDs. I love getting to intensely listen to everything happening…and then listen again…and I hear something I didn't hear before. It's truly amazing. Music. Another one of my favorite things is live music. I LOVE going to see shows. I often get teased by my friends and roommates because of the large amount of shows I attend. There's something incredible about hearing people produce music on the spot…to see their fingers move, creating the notes…to hear their voices passionately communicating what they're singing about. I love it. And I quite literally cannot get enough of it. I sometimes wonder if there's something wrong with me. As a musician, people will often ask what I do with my time other than music. I pause, and then almost appologetically reply, "music." I do music for a living, but in my spare time I love listening to music, going to hear music, playing music with friends, writing songs. Sure there ARE other things I do with my time. But music takes up a considerable amount of it. I love it. It's as if it's part of my make up. I feel like if I wasn't playing, experiencing, listening to music, then I would be missing out on part of who I am.

God created music. He created the ability to play music, the ability to hear it, the ability to enjoy it, the ability to be moved by it.

I am humbled that I get to be part of this music realm. Last night I was at a worship service where they played one of my songs. Let me tell you, that's a stange experience. The idea that somehow words, notes, melodies of my life were captured and now were being translated…and hundreds of people were joining in singing. And not only singing, they were worshiping…the Creator of the world, the Creator of our ears, the Creator of music…through something I wrote. Man, that messes you up. And can only lead you to worship God because you know in your heart how fallen you are and that you on your own could never have come up with one note of music without God somehow transforming you. Don't worry, that's not false humilty crap. I'm not pulling one of those "God gave me this song…I didn't write it--He did." I definitely don't think any of my songs are good enough to be accompanied by "words and music by God." But I DO think that He put music within me…within my soul. To some extent He put it in all of us. So really none of us can take the credit for it. And it's one of the ways that our eyes are opened to who God is--His beauty, wonder, mystery. I guess it's only natural that music--or any element of life, for that matter--would result in worship.

wow. music exists.

Alone? Quiet? For 24 Hours?

A couple weeks ago I did something I've never done...I went on a solitude retreat...Just me in a little cabin...no electricity...no distractions...here were my thoughts as I reflected back on it:

Solitude…it was a good thing…but a very hard thing for me….I LOVE people…and I really enjoy being productive. A solitude retreat is about neither one of those things…so it was hard, but good for me. I spent a lot of time sitting…just sitting…and some good time reading and walking (not at the same time)…and sleeping. I didn't have any huge revelations or "aha!" moments where I learned the secret of life, or my future, or anything like that. Honestly, I think I was half-expecting something like that, so it felt a little disappointing when that didn't happen. But I was relieved to hear that that sort of thing doesn't happen for most people. I think one of the biggest things I walked away with was a realization of how much noise and how many distractions I have in my life…I'm always listening to music, or driving my car, or talking on the phone, or typing an email, or surfing the web, or watching TV, or reading, or working, or doing something else. It's seldom that I sit and do nothing. I know that silence and solitude are necessary for everyone, and I have a feeling that the more I do it, the better I'll get at it…Jesus seemed to spend a lot of time away…just being with His Father…how amazing would it be to get to the point where I'm craving that time with Him regularly…I mean really craving…not doing it because I "should" or as a discipline…craving…man, I want to be there…hopefully with time…

(dis)Contentment

It never seems to go away. And I guess that's by design. Sometimes it grows loud--almost screaming inside of me. Other times it lays low. But its always there. There are times when it drowns out everything and I'm consumed. But what am I to do? Do I surrender? Do I work harder? Is there anything that can cure this homesickness? This longing? It seems that contentment is the goal of life. Every advertisement suggests that if you buy this, if you try this--then you will be happy. It’s the missing link. Its what you've been hoping for and waiting for your whole life. And we all fall for it. Because we all want it. We want this longing in us to subside. We want the screaming to stop. We're aching for the ache to leave. And we all have our own remedies, our own medication that seems to help for a short while, but inevitably wears off. Here I sit with my Caribou Coffee in hand. A substance offering temporary comfort and a hinted reality of what life was meant to be. And I think we realize that. And yet we let ourselves believe that maybe--just maybe it will work this time. Discontentment. I want to learn how to graciously live within this--to embrace it, knowing that there IS more. Rejoice that this isn't all there is. I want to be overwhelmed with the hope that we can dwell in and the promise that we can cling to. Its coming. Its not that far off. In just a little while, He is coming. We will be reunited with our Maker, our Lover, and finally the screaming, aching, and longing will end. Finally we will be satisfied--delighted to be in His presence. Content. Until then, may this discontentment propel me forward, lift my eyes, and direct my heart to that day.

Recording is such a fascinating experience and a process that I really love. I've enjoyed it in the past, and I'm thrilled to be back in it now. The way I see it, the process is made of two main components...First, you have the songs: labors of love, that represent life experience--some good, some painful. Regardless, they are all overflows of your heart, soul, and life. Second, you have the people: amazingly talented individuals all getting together in one room to create something beautiful. They each bring different backgrounds to the table, different tastes, and different visions. But you all get to work together to make one piece of art. And then you have the listener--the person on the other side of the project, listening in to the final product. As you create, you anticipate this moment…where someone hears your song and -boom- they connect. You pray that something in the words, in the music pulls them in and they find beauty, challenge, and hope. Without the listener, the process is incomplete. They are needed. I think it’s a great picture of the Body of Christ. We're all in different places with different gifts. Yet, we're all needed. We all have a part to play and all are equally as important. So as I take this journey…creating…I invite you to join in and to take this journey with me. Pray for this process and pray that when you have this album spinning in your stereo or on your iPod, that -boom-...