Religious Freedom: In the Eye of the Storm
I was totally jamming out to the uplifting song, “Give Me Love, Give Me Life”, by Supertramp’s former vocalist and songwriter, Roger Hodgson.
The music swelled, and the live recording of an audience getting caught up in the power of the Spirit of Love followed suit into shouts of joy as the drums led into a new pulse of life-giving energy.
(Photo by PowerPoint Creative Commons)
Then it happened.
My phone automatically adjusted the volume, turning it way down, just as it was really getting good. I looked at my phone to see what was the matter.
A message appeared on the screen warning me that listening to music at that volume was damaging to my ears. I hadn’t turned up the volume, and Lord knows, the volume usually goes way further up when more popular songs come on or when there is some sort of commercial interruption.
It was like some outside force did not want me to get all caught up emotionally in the super-charged message of love, hope, and charity that the music evoked!
I couldn’t help but recognize that this was just one more way that the “establishment” is working to take away our ability to choose for ourselves what is good for us and what is not good for us.
After all, what would have been the likelihood that this kind of message would appear while listening to something like the ultra-vulgar and nasty lyrics by many popular artists today like the song "WAP"!
I felt chastised by this intrusion of my privacy and free will to go deaf if I so choose, listening to something a bit more mainstream and enlightening! You say, “Huh?” Please, allow me to explain.
First, Roger Hodgson’s concept album, “In the Eye of the Storm”, was never categorized as Christian fare. I would point out, however, that the music video that accompanied his lead song had a very strong and unapologetic prolife theme.
Hodgson’s song, “Had a Dream (Sleeping with the Enemy)”, began with orchestral music that captured a spirit of concern and growing trauma. Embedded in the music, one can also hear the sound of a crying newborn in the background.
Images of the universe appeared and what at first looked like the Milky Way took the form of a placenta attached to a growing baby. As the size of the baby grew on screen, backgrounded audio of words from famous novelists, a clock ticking loudly, emergency sirens, research presentations—generally the chaos of everyday life—could be heard.
Then all of the sudden, the baby opened his eyes. The image of Rodger Hodgson in fetal position alternated with the image of the baby. All disappeared with the sound of lightning crashing. Or was it?
It becomes evident that the “storm” that Roger wrote about took on a whole different meaning as the songwriter can be seen running through the clouds almost completely nude.
We are not informed of where the clouds came from. They might be part of the fallout of what might have been a nuclear explosion or just the oddities of a terrible nightmare. The song of outrage, warning, and determination begins.
What was written in the 80’s remains relevant in 2022 and beyond.
The whole album captures the story of our collective humanity run amok when we lose sight of God. Roger takes us from utter despair at the start of his album all the way back into the Sacred Heart of our Savior, Jesus Christ, by the end.
So, if you can image, I was totally miffed when at the climax of that musical journey, the darn volume got turned way down. It was as though I was discouraged from hearing what I needed to hear and from listening to that which I needed to listen!
In that moment, I realized the extent to which we are all being monitored and manipulated by forces “out there”.
I took this incident as a message from God and defiantly cranked up the volume thinking out loud, “Better to go deaf with the Spirit of Love than to surrender to the enemy!” And with greater fervor continued, “I’m not going to become another brick in the wall!”
Pink Floyd aside, I don’t think God would have asked me to dim the heart light deep inside this space cadet and turn down the volume. He wants us to listen, to respond, and to crank it up!
We are at a time when we can stand as one and switch-foot, or rather, pivot and be heroes, even if it’s for just one day.
For as Christians, we already walk in victory!
While protecting and standing up for our religious freedom is imperative, we will not be defeated should the authorities choose to try to temper us with doing something questionable.
I mean, look at what happened at Harvard! They appointed an atheist as the chair of the department of theology!
No! We may have to go all Roger Hodgson or back to the early days when Christians had symbols like the fish to recognize one another. But most importantly, if there was a time that we must follow the Great Commandment, the time is now!
Come what may, love God and love your neighbors, so others will know that you are one of His disciples! Become one love—one of the many LOVING STONES that make up the dwelling place of the Lord, here in the now and forever!
Crank it up! Give me love! Give me life!
See and listen to “Had a Dream (Sleeping with the Enemy)”
Listen to the entire musical/spiritual journey “In the Eye of the Storm” by Roger Hodgson
About Cindy Kolak:
Cynthia Cardenas-Kolak is a lifelong learner, teacher, independent scholar, and author who has trained other trainers, teachers, and administrators on best instructional practices for diverse learners. She has been a member of Prince of Peace Catholic Community for seven years and resides in northwest Houston with her husband and son. As an active participant in her parish, she has served in multiple roles including pastoral care volunteer, funeral coordinator, small group facilitator of book studies with Catholic WE and the parish at large, LOVING STONES, and has a strong calling to the New Evangelization.
Favorite Scriptures: “Give thanks to the Lord on the harp; on the ten-stringed lyre offer praise. Sing to him a new song; skillfully play with joyous chant.” (Ps 33:3)
“Call to me, and I will answer you; I will tell you things beyond the reach of your knowledge.” (Jer 33:3)
