I’ve often been surprised at the number of times God seems to use random songs to speak to me. It often comes out of the blue, and might be songs I have only a passing knowledge of. The song just pops into my head, and along with it comes a weird sense of how God’s using it to speak to me.
For example:
- Walk This Way = a call to discipleship (naturally)
- Hanging By A Moment = comfort when things are changing (fair enough)
- Shut Up And Dance = trust amid turmoil (stupid 2020)
- Wannabe = discernment (seriously?!)
I don’t plan it. It just happens, and often becomes a weird guiding light for me for a time. I love the randomness of it all. It’s like God is doing it just to mess with me.
A recent one came this week. I was thinking about the readings for last Sunday. Jonah calls the Ninevites to turn from their evil ways. Jesus tells us to “Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
Bam: Turn around, bright eyes.
Repent. The word used (metanoia) means a change of mind. We’re called to change, to turn around and come back.
Sure, I’ve tried to follow Christ for decades. He captured my heart long ago. But there are still areas of my life that are turned away from him. There are areas and habits of sin that I’m all too familiar with. There are some that I try to pretend aren’t there at all.
And to that he says: turn around, bright eyes.
Bright eyes. Such a term of endearment. He loves me. He loves me, and that’s why he’s calling me. He loves me, and that’s why he’s asking me to turn around and follow him with my whole heart.
Speaking of whole hearts: Bonnie Tyler’s sure gives it her all. She destroys her voice by the middle of the song, and then just keeps going. She does this for a song, for love of “bright eyes.” Am I willing to give it my all for God? Am I holding back? Well, I know I am, but it’s like God’s inviting me to stop holding back, to just let go of my reservations and chase after him.
Turn around, bright eyes.
