Still Learning

Music has always been a part of my life since I was too young to recall.  My brother taught himself how to play guitar while listening to Elvis and the Everly Brothers.  Mom played the organ for the church and would practice on the old piano we had at the farmhouse.  I even took piano lessons as a young lad, sang in the church choir and was in a rock and roll band in high school.  There was always some music around from rock and roll to "Rock of Ages".  And up until a few years ago I was more tuned in to the instrumental portion of a song;  loved the movement of the notes from major to minor, the rhythm of the percussion, and the chords as each note harmonized with the others.  The bass turned up so loud your stomach would shake and rumble, the screeching feedback from the lead guitar made your ears ring, and the back beat of the drums made your toes tap with excitement.

Lately though, I have paid closer attention to the words and as I grow older, the words become stronger and louder than an amplifier turned to 10.  The words are more clear to me now and make sense in a more mature manner.  My tastes have changed in oh so many ways and I don't look at music the way I did years ago.  Then, music was best if I could dance to it, if it was loud, and if my girlfriend liked it.  Now it is good if it speaks to me in some way like I was spoken to this past week by Bob Seger.

I had one of those rare moments in my car when the cell phone was quiet, business was between inhale and exhale, and I found myself tuned in, literally, to Bob Seger's "Runnin' Against the Wind".  I have heard that song hundreds of times, had sung it many times, but never have I heard it the way I did last week.  Suddenly I WAS Bob Seger and I saw ME in every word...every word.  Perhaps verse 2 was the most poignant.  "The years rolled slowly past, found myself alone, surrounded by strangers I thought were my friends...further and further from my home...".  At that moment "I found myself seeking shelter against the wind".

The song has different meanings for different people, but one thing for sure.  It is a song about life and each of us went through it didn't we?  Some of us made it through and some did not, and those lucky enough to have survived have all learned from what the past has brought to our table.  Life is a great teacher and if you listen she will share her wisdom.  I have been a good listener over the years and thank God, I am "Still Learning".