My dating relationship history is one of the favorite joking points of my family.  From the one who loved buttons and collared shirts to the one who almost killed a whole church by feeding them undercooked fried chicken, there is good reason that this is my Achilles’ heel in family roasting sessions.  In recent years, I knew a guy who found a few quirks in my personality that annoyed the heck out of him and strongly recommended that I change.  (As you can guess, this relationship never really got off the ground.)  First of all, he hated sports and believed that sports fans were less intelligent.  Of course, I am a sports junkie who sees no issue with screamin’ at the television or honoring a period of mourning when my favorite team loses.  Next, he called me melodramatic because I happen to like certain tv shows that might have sad moments in them that may or may not make me cry.  He felt the need to remind me that those shows aren’t real and too many ‘girls’ sit around waiting for McDreamy to show up on their doorstep which never happens and so they grow old with cats.  Did I want to grow old with cats??? Because the enjoyment of fictional story lines = me living alone forever.

Yet, the biggest issue he had with me was my relationship with music.  He couldn’t understand the way I identified moods and happenings in my life with certain songs.  He would hulk-rage when I jokingly quoted lyrics at him that fit the moment.  I believe his exact words were, “Adults use their own words and not some pansy song.  Why don’t you listen to real music… heavy metal.”  (Hmmm let me think.  Because I’d rather shove a chopstick in my ear.  That’s why.)  He considered music as background noise and not a extension of who you are.   To me, music has always been the ability to express emotions with words I’d never be brave to say on my own.  It has been my wingman, confidante, and consoler when things are tough, and he just couldn’t grasp that.

So why am I exposing the dating skeletons in my closet?  Because it’s been a weird week here in Laurelland and where usually I would use music to unclog my small bout of writer’s/gusher’s block, I’ve found myself struggling to find the right music to quench my thirst. For the first time in a long time, I haven’t had a go-to song that told the world and silently affirmed within me how I was feeling.  That is until this song popped up on the shuffle feature of my iPod as I was getting ready for bed tonight. Knowing that you are much more accepting of me than a certain unnamed music hater, I present to you my Thursday music post. Even if this song does nothing for you, I hope somewhere in the next few days you find something that describes how you feel this perfectly.

Casting Crowns – “Your Love Is Extravagant”

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