Turn the Radio On

Our radio wave reception at school was somewhat unique.

Out in the middle of the Yakama Indian Reservation, coverage - by air waves, cell towers, internet, satellite, television, radio - anything that travels invisibly through the air - was intermittent and many times non-existent.

But sometimes, when the stars, clouds, wind, sun, moon, weeds, tall trees, and traveling motorists were all in alignment, we could enjoy music and making calls on our cell phones.

It didn't happen often, but when it did, it was a "Hallelujah!" day.

I have fond music memories from walking down the hallway. When the invisible wires, waves, and receptions were all in place, I could often hear five radio stations going at once. Some would be on the same fuzzy station, but there were always at least two different channels, fraught with varying degrees of static.

If I timed it right, I could walk out of my room, singing with whatever song was playing on my station. Humming along to the music in my head, I would walk into the continuation of the same song, playing on a different device. Or I would jump into the middle of a new song and adjust my mental channel to play that song. This continued for each room I passed or walked into.

If, occasionally, I could not get reception in my room, there was usually at least one other person who could receive signals, and therefore, music.

Long-distance enjoyment and singing were side effects of this phenomenon. Harmony, debatable in its quality at times due to the interference of walls and time lag, was often produced. But all the more beautiful and interesting, right?

It was like visiting a music practice studio where little cubicles were filled with a musician or soloist, each performing a different song or musical piece. Only in the hallway could you enjoy the variety and choose one or the other to join in with and hum along.

I totally loved the fluctuating musical performances. We became quite adept at filling in the blanks caused by our placement in the reception grid.

Good reception is overrated. Any reception is awesome.

While You Were Sleeping

Disappointed to miss the second half of an interview with Casting Crowns on K-love, I drove out of my coffee stop (a girl's got to have her morning joe, right?), and started listening to a song in progress. I hadn't heard it before, but suddenly, the lyrics caught my ear. Something about 'philosophies that save the trees and kill the children' (hurts to even type those words). Later on I found the words were on Casting Crown's new Christmas CD in the middle of the song "While You Were Sleeping." Quite a wake-up call for all of us.

Back to the story. As I was trying to figure out the lyrics and what they meant, and then started thinking about the bride disappearing in the night, taken by the Bridegroom, I got excited about being caught up in the air and seeing Jesus. Did I mention I was driving?

As I reached the next traffic light (usually a very heavily trafficked intersection, but not so bad at 6:30 am), I saw the light turn green. I continued on, dividing my brain into thinking about what was on the radio and driving. Then I noticed that there was quite a bit of traffic lined up in front of me, facing me. Hmmmm?

As I blew through the intersection, I suddenly realized that the traffic was waiting for some idiot to stop for the red light. (clears throat) That would be me. They had the green light. I thought I had green, but no, it was the turn lane's green. Not mine. (hyperventilate) I was thinking about Jesus coming back to get me, when I was a hair's breadth from going to see Him instead! I am so ecstatic that those cars patiently waited for me (mumbling I'm sure, but they waited).

(Deep cleansing breath). Now. Focus on what is most important at the time. Driving was definitely most important. "While You Were Sleeping"...title of the song. Wasn't sleeping, but I'm sure I appeared to be. Sorry, very kind drivers.

Now, I must remember that I, too, can drive horribly and be more patient when others mess up. No mumbling. (think, self, think...it was me last week, it was me last week). Sigh.

And back to the song, "While You Were Sleeping" by Casting Crowns:

United States of America
Looks like another silent night
As we're sung to sleep by philosophies
That save the trees and kill the children
And while we're lying in the dark
There's a shout heard 'cross the eastern sky
For the Bridegroom has returned
And has carried His bride away in the night

America, what will we miss while we are sleeping
Will Jesus come again
And leave us slumbering where we lay
America, will we go down in history
As a nation with no room for its King
Will we be sleeping
Will we be sleeping

Something to think about. Now, keep your eyes open for me when you're out on the road. I'll be NOT going through red lights.