Yep. That’s it.

A while back, several people I know on social media got invited to post the ten albums that influenced them the most. Each one posted one album a day for the next ten days, although some couldn’t limit their lists to just ten.

For some reason or another, I never got my invite. Maybe it’s because I’m not into vinyl. I appreciate that it’s making a comeback, but I really don’t want to buy my collection all over again.

So I am sharing my own list of albums that have changed and broadened my musical horizons. Of course, I have way more than 10. If you’re not all that into music, you might want to skip ahead to the next post. But if you are, buckle your seatbelt ’cause you’re in for a bumpy ride. Here they are (in no particular order):

1. Boston – Boston
2. Ella & Louis – Porgy and Bess
3. Miles Davis – A Kind of Blue
4. The Who – Who’s Next
5. Rush – Permanent Waves / Moving Pictures
6. Russ Taff – Under Their Influence Vol 1
7. King’s X – Dogman
8. Tom Petty – Full Moon Fever
9. U2 – The Joshua Tree
10. Don McLean – American Pie
11. Allman Brothers – Eat a Peach
12. Dan Fogelberg – Souvenirs
13. Van Morrison – Moondance
14. Carole King – Tapestry
15. Jimi Hendrix – Are You Experienced?
16. Brand X – Xtrax
17. Chicago – IX Greatest Hits
18. Phil Collins – No Jacket Required
19. Yes – Fragile
20. Cream – Disraeli Gears
21. Kansas – Leftoverture
22. Jethro Tull – Songs from The Wood
23. Journey – Departure
24. Steve Vai – Passion and Warfare
25. SRV and Double Trouble – In Step
26. The Beatles – Rubber Soul
27. The Band – The Last Waltz
28. The Dukes of Straosphear – Psonic Psunspot
29. Elvis Presley – The Complete Sun Sessions
30. The Thorns – The Thorns

“O God, I thank You for this day of life
for eyes to see the sky
for ears to hear the birds
for feet to walk amidst the trees
for hands to pick the flowers from the earth
for a sense of smell to breathe in the sweet
perfumes of nature
for a mind to think about and appreciate
the magic of everyday miracles
for a spirit to swell in joy at Your mighty presence
everywhere” (Marian Wright Edelman)

I think I read somewhere that if the only prayer I ever prayed was “Thank you,” that would be sufficient.

I don’t necessarily think that it is completely sufficient by itself, but it goes a long way toward how I view God, the world, and myself.

It’s hard to be envious with thanksgiving. It’s difficult to hold grudges and give thanks. It’s nearly impossible to by cynical and grateful at the same time.

Thanksgiving is the lens through which we can see God more clearly in the world around us and in the world within us.

Maybe the way to overcome 2020 is to give thanks.

There’s nothing more calming and peaceful than a sleeping cat in your lap.

When a cat deems your lap worthy of his or her occupation, you should feel lucky and blessed indeed.

If you get the chance, I highly recommend it.

Even though I myself am a cat person, dogs and other furry critters also work.

Just whatever helps you to be calmer in the midst of stress and chaos.

Election season will soon be upon us. Sooner than later, people will start losing their minds. People will forget how to have rational discourses and resort to yelling and name-calling.

Don’t do that.

Be better than that.

Be the one who adds beauty to the world, not more divisive content.

Be the one who reflects God to the world, even when everyone else seems to be acting like demons.

Be the same Jesus to others that Jesus was to you at your lowest and least likable moments.

Lately, it seems to me that we look at the pandemic and coronavirus much the same way many of us look at the devil. Bear with me. I’ll explain.

It seems that for some, the devil doesn’t exist. They give no thought to demons or demonic power. Either they don’t believe in Satan or they just don’t really care one way or the other.

Then there are those who give too much credence to the devil. They see him at work everywhere. Every bad thing ever done or every bad person is a direct result of the devil. Every waking moment is about how to overcome the devil.

Much the same way, there are some who don’t believe there is a pandemic or just don’t care. They will live however they want like there’s no such thing as coronavirus or COVID-19. Nothing and no one will change their minds.

Then there are some who live in constant fear and anxiety of the pandemic. They will go to extreme measures to protect themselves and their loved ones. Every waking thought is dedicated to the virus. They get angry with you if you’re not as fearful and anxious all the time as they are about COVID-19.

God told us to live wisely in this world, but He also said not to live in fear. He told us that His perfect love overcomes fear. Ultimately, for me to still choose fear is to doubt God at His word. It may be my natural default setting, but that doesn’t mean I have to live that way from now on.

You can live in such a way that acknowledges the reality of the pandemic without letting anxiety dictate your existence. You can take coronavirus seriously without prioritizing fear over living your life. Even though the tendency of humanity is toward extremes, you can find a healthy balance in the middle where common sense and trust in God intersect.

Also, I don’t think believers are called to shame those who don’t share our views on the pandemic. We’re not given the liberty to disobey Jesus’ command not to judge, even in the middle of COVID-19. That means you don’t get to decide the character of a person you’ve never met and know nothing about aside from one or two of their behaviors. You don’t get to say you know a person’s intent or motivation when you’ve never had any meaningful conversations with them or gotten to know them at all.

Trust that God knows what He’s doing. Trust that He can work even in the midst of people who don’t take the situation seriously and those who are consumed and obsessed with it. You can rest in the knowledge that it’s not your job to end the pandemic or get people in line. God is up to the task.

He will take care of it. And you.

I’ve seen them. You’ve seen them.

All the posts and gifs and memes essentially blaming 2020 for all that’s gone wrong lately. Usually what follows is a wish to be transported immediately to 2021. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200.

I’ve probably posted a few myself.

But what does a calendar year have to do with any of it? Is a man-made construct of measuring time really to blame for it all?

I for one am done blaming 2020.

I believe that the rest of 2020 will be what I choose to make of it.

I know I can’t control what comes next. I can control my response.

It can either be one of fatalistic acceptance or resigned apathy. Or it can be to lean on the promise of God that He really does work all things together for good. Even in 2020.

I can cop out and call the next 4 months a loss, or I can do a mental reset and intentionally seek out ways to find the good and to bless others and to make the name of Jesus great for the next 134 days.

In the midst of every bad, negative, evil that happens, there is a reason for gratitude. Not everything that happens is good, but there can be good in everything that happens.

Even a pandemic can make us truly thankful for the gifts of life and relationships and face-to-face conversations. You know, the old-fashioned kind we used to have before social media took over?

I know God is still in control in 2020, the same as He was in 2019. The same as He will be in 2021, regardless of the outcome of the Presidential election or the search for a coronavirus vaccine.

Just this. This right here. That’s all you need to know.

You’re welcome.

This made me chuckle.

Basically, Kanye West is fed up with some of the content of Tik Tok and wants to start a new app called Jesus Tok. But I prefer Jason Isbell’s idea of calling it DC Tak.

If any of this sounds like a foreign language, you’re probably not familiar with current app technology. You’re also probably not from the 90s.

But if you’re one of the lucky few who get this, you are awesome.