(It’s guest post Friday! Here’s one from Claire Stevens… If you want to write a guest post for SCL, here’s how!)
Doing the Holy Shuffle
No, I’m not referring to Saturday Night Fever moves that have been subtly modified to be church-disco-appropriate.
As a Christian who doesn’t drive and who takes a lot of buses, I have plenty of opportunities for time with God, listening to worship on my iPod. I’m worshipping, just with my mostly-inside-my-head worship voice. Sometimes muted sounds escape from the back of my throat. It’s like Crash Test Dummies’ Mmm mmm mmm mmm vs. Michael W. (Some people call him “Smitty.” Not me.)
Sometimes though I don’t know which kind of Christian music I feel like listening to. Will it be Hillsong United – the espresso-shot of worship I need first thing in the morning, even though I’m much too old and un-bouncy to be in the target demographic? Should it be something soothing and peaceful? If I’m wearing a hoodie, should I go for one of the three songs with rap sections?
And then I remember: I don’t need to decide. The iPod has a shuffle function. It goes something like this:
Shuffle songs: Tim Hughes, Beautiful One.
My brain: “Oh, awesome. Yup, Jesus is beautiful. I love Him. Wow, it’s like God knew this was the right song. Hmm hmm hmm.”
I gaze out the bus window. The song is finishing.
Shuffle songs: Matt Redman, Let my Words be Few.
Brain: “That’s such a good reminder. Today I’ll have to remember to listen and pray more than I speak.”
So far, so general.
Then things get a little weird.
I’m daydreaming about that guy I like in my home group. Might he like me? Could he be the one?
Shuffle songs: Marc James, Surrender.
Brain: “Wow – that is so spot on! I need to surrender that crush to God as well as everything else in my life. I’m feeling corrected.”
It’s at about this point that I attribute the gift of prophecy to the iPod.
Don’t get me wrong. I completely believe that God uses music to speak to us. Probably even prefers an iPhone over a Droid. How else would you explain how long it took for droid to get Instagram, an app primarily used to document the sunsets God gives us? What’s astonishing is that the device knows exactly which song to play next.
It’s become a Holy Shuffle. (I felt like “Siri Spirit” was probably pushing it too far.)
Holy Shuffle: Matt Redman, Mission’s Flame.
Brain: “Wow! I’m going to be a missionary! God really is a DJ.”
Sometimes, God’s voice is a little harder to discern though. Especially when you have forgotten that the last time you synced your iPod, you loaded all your music rather than just selecting the worship.
Brain: “What is it that you have for me today, Lord?”
Holy Shuffle: Beyonce and Slim Thug, Check on it.
Brain: “Who am I to marry, Lord?”
Holy Shuffle: You Can’t Always Get What You Want, Glee Cast version.
Does that mean I’m headed toward a “Silver medal spouse?” Awesome.
What do you think? Are there tracks on your iPod or MP3 player that could provide the answers to the questions in your life?
Question: Have you ever done the Holy Shuffle?
