WARNING PREACHY…
A
month ago or so, singer Chris Cornell[1] committed
suicide after a concert in Detroit. I
was not really a fan, nor had I ever been to one of his concerts, but he was an
incredible musician and I loved most everything he created.
Since
his death, I have been listening to his music through his career of performing in a
bunch of different bands and projects. He did a song “Show Me How to Live” that he sang
when he was with Audioslave and I wanted to comment on it.
Show Me How to
Live
Audioslave
And with the
early dawn
Moving right along
I couldn't buy and eyeful of sleep
Moving right along
I couldn't buy and eyeful of sleep
And in the
aching night under satellites
I was not received
Built with stolen parts
A telephone in my heart
Someone get me a priest
To put my mind to bed
This ringing in my head
Is this a cure or is this a disease
I was not received
Built with stolen parts
A telephone in my heart
Someone get me a priest
To put my mind to bed
This ringing in my head
Is this a cure or is this a disease
Nail in my hand
From my creator
You gave me life
Now show me how to live
From my creator
You gave me life
Now show me how to live
Nail in my hand
From my creator
You gave me life
Now show me how to live
From my creator
You gave me life
Now show me how to live
And in the after
birth
On the quiet earth
Let the stains remind you
You thought you made a man
You better think again
Before my role defines you
On the quiet earth
Let the stains remind you
You thought you made a man
You better think again
Before my role defines you
Nail in my hand
From my creator
You gave me life
Now show me how to live
From my creator
You gave me life
Now show me how to live
Nail in my hand
From my creator
You gave…
From my creator
You gave…
I’m
not going to try to figure out the depths and details of this song but the
chorus begs to be commented on.
Nail in my hand
From my creator
I
find it interesting that Cornell was of the opinion that there was a creator of
this world. One may argue that this was
just a song and he was not trying to infer this at all, but he has other songs
that were somewhat spiritual in nature, and it leads me to believe otherwise.
On my deathbed I
will pray
To the gods and the angels
Like a pagan to anyone
Who will take me to heaven
To the gods and the angels
Like a pagan to anyone
Who will take me to heaven
(Like
a Stone – Audioslave[2])
He
seems to understand that he has the curse of death in his life but he’s not
exactly sure what to do about it.
You gave me life
Now show me how to live
Now show me how to live
These
words are sung almost in an angry tone; like someone who is upset that he has
been born into this world but doesn’t have the directions for life. I can sort of relate...
When
I first became a Christian, in 1994, I found I was upset because I was placed
in the situation of having to live according to the will of Christ when all I
really wanted to do was to live my life -- my
way. But the resurrection would no
longer allow me to simply live my life for myself, and I could no longer deny
that there was a moral obligation on my life.
My problem was that I wasn’t yelling to God to show me how to live,
rather I already knew and I didn’t necessarily like the call to a new life of selflessness
and sacrificial existence.
In
Christ, we have all been shown how to live; for Jesus lived a life of selfless
abandon led by the Spirit of a Holy God who cared for the poor and the neediest
among us. And he called us to pick up
our crosses and follow him daily[3].
Chris
Cornell was an extraordinary talent and I am sorry that he ended his own
life. I wish he didn’t struggle like he
did and I wish he could have been around longer so he could have met the savior
and learned the answer to his question.
John 10:10
The thief comes
only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it
abundantly.
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