Recently my partner and I watched One Love at the cinema (not Cine-yukky- tech-stress inducing-world). What jumped out was how young Marley was when he died at just thirty-six. I still don’t know whether this could have been avoided if he’d got his trotter sorted earlier. The other thing was how broken he was before he picked himself back up to start what would be the last run of his music. The one that resulted in the Redemption song.
Like a lot of us, I love a true story. Even more when people show their real struggles, how they find their way through and how they live with whatever their set of challenges are. Anyone who practises super shiny polished ‘I’ve got all my shit together’ persona’s, turn me right off. Let’s face it, bs stinks; our own or other peoples.
Personally, I love all things music, I just lack musical ability. But I love listening to it, singing, feeling it and dancing. My church very graciously allows me to sing in their worship team. This despite having a deficit of technical skills. I dread the request, ‘Jo, give us a C’, as I have nought knowledge about any letters of the musical alphabet.
However, I do love singing to and about God even if it is with more enthusiasm than ability or finesse. And I’ve always loved to dance. Upon seeing a circular area on the waiting area of Argos many years ago with the music playing overhead, my eyes lit up. When my friend saw me she knew exactly what I was thinking and immediately urged me ‘don’t Jo, just don’t’! I wasn’t as free from people pleasing back then so I didn’t! But these days if the urge to dance takes me, I go with it! It’s no issue for me to hurl myself around a dancefloor completely unaccompanied while drinking nothing stronger than H20.
But back to Bob, who I thought and still think is a legend. I love Bob’s music which has ministered to me at numerous times, in numerous ways over the years. Once when awaiting a plane at an American Airport, I was feeling very distressed. Suddenly, I noticed that’s Bob’s song, ‘Don’t worry’, was playing in the Airport lounge. It made me smile when I feared it would be a while before I managed anything remotely resembling one of those! It was like God Himself drew my ears to the music and my heart to the lyrics. As if wanting to reassure me that I would be ok and I was not forgotten by Him or alone with my upset. God basically used the music of Marley to reach me when I was miles away from anyone else who may have reached me.
As for the ‘three little birds’ song, obviously I LOVE this song!!
Anyway, I’m writing about Bob because during a recent discussion, his drug taking came up. For some, I think this may get him and his music written off as ‘bad’. But for me, whether you approve or disapprove of Marleys leanings or lifestyle, he preached love through his music. And he modelled redemption through his actions. Was he perfect? No, but are any of us?
I’m not sure how accurate the film was but it showed Marley look the guy who shot him in the eye and forgive him. I think the shootee aka Marley was releasing the shooter from any kind of debt. He reminded the shootee that he could free himself from slavery to anything other than love. He had a choice just like we all do.
I’m certainly grateful that God has redeemed me from my many years of messiness. And that within his love, I can continue to seek deeper levels of freedom. This isn’t a place I get to but a commitment to continue learning along the way. Freedom deepens when I recognise what is holding me back, down, or away from the fullest version of this thing called life. (usually me!). And then choose to actively do something about it!