Music and Emotions

Isn't it amazing how quickly and deeply music can evoke emotions?  And how music can almost instantaneously transport us to different times in our lives? 

My wife and I will sometimes play our own version of Name That Tune with our iPhones when we are traveling.  Play just the first few notes of a song and see if the other person can name it.    It just amazes me how the human mind can take the first few notes of a song and out of all of the songs that we have heard in our lives, our minds can instantly connect to the correct one.

I'm sure we have all experienced the way when a certain song comes on, no matter how we feel at the time, a smile just spreads across our face.  I have a whole playlist on my iPhone called Songs that make me go Yeah!  Great way to keep a smile on your face while you are running or biking.

I was reminded of this a couple of days ago when one of my favorite Christian songs came on while I was out for a late autumn bike ride.  It was a beautiful sunny day.  Around 65 degrees.  The colors were spectacular.  And when this song came on my heart soared.

Now I know that is a weird way to describe it but it is the only way that I can think of that really reflects the emotions that this song evokes.  This song almost always brings a tear (of joy and gratitude) to my eye and I can remember many times in the past when this song has unexpectedly come on and evoked the same emotions.  Once on a plane.  Once driving down the Pacific Coast Highway in California around Big Sur come to mind.

 What is the song?  I Can Only Imagine by Mercyme

I Can Only Imagine

I can only imagine what it will be like, when I walk by Your side...

I can only imagine, what my eyes will see, when Your Face is before me!

I can only imagine. I can only imagine.

Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?

Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?

Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?

Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'? Will I be able to speak at all?

I can only imagine! I can only imagine!

I can only imagine, when that day comes, when I find myself standing in the Son!

I can only imagine, when all I will do, is forever, forever worship You!

I can only imagine! I can only imagine!

Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?

Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?

Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?

Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'? Will I be able to speak at all?

I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!

Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?

Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?

Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?

Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'? Will I be able to speak at all?

I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!

I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!! Only imagine!!!

I can only imagine.

I can only imagine, when all I do is forever, forever worship You!

[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/m/mercyme/i_can_only_imagine.html ]

What is it going to be like when we stand in front of Him?  I love the chorus:

Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?

Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?

Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?

Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'? Will I be able to speak at all?

I can only imagine! I can only imagine!

How blown away are we going to be to finally be in God's presence? 

I don't know if Steve Jobs (founder of Apple) was a Christian or not but I find his last words, as reported by his sister, interesting.  As he slipped from this life to the next, with his family surrounding him, his last words were "Oh wow, oh wow, oh wow!"

Now I've got to be honest with you.  We read in the Bible about how awesome Heaven is going to be, but I'm still not in a hurry to get there.  I always feel a bit bad saying that but come on, I'm human.  Right now I'd rather be here with my family.

But when the day comes that Jesus calls me home, how cool is it going to be?  I'll bet that "Oh wow, oh wow, oh wow!" might just about cover it!