CharlieHall:thebrightsadness

posted by bleek on August 23rd, 2008 filed in life, music, theology

I’ve been listening to Charlie Hall’s stuff for years, now, and have worshipped with him in concert on many occasions. his music helps tame my mind when it devours itself with anxiety, and helps me spin with joy when I have eyes to see and ears to hear the Lord’s handiwork.

each new album requires a few walk-thru’s before I get it. Hall has a way of putting an odd sonic touch on his songs that takes some adjustment. within a few weeks, however, I always come around not only to appreciate them, but to love them. really love them.

with his newest, The Bright Sadness, he pulled off the most masterfully simple song to date. he’s outdone himself.

a year or so ago, a good Episcopalian friend of mine took a course on eschatology at Dallas Seminary. she commented that her tradition doesn’t particularly emphasize eschatology to the extent that she encountered in the course. in fact, she said her eschatological creed was virtually limited to:

Christ died.

Christ rose again.

Christ will return.

this confident simplicity blessed me beyond (or in spite of?) belief. “on these three we agree,” I thought. and by “we” I mean all Christendom. I mean every respect to Episcopalians, and other traditions, who possess a compact eschatology. this creed has cred.

I sketched out a song to put these three phrases to music, but Hall beat me to it. and, he soundly beat me. his outweighs mine significantly. . .

Mystery

Sweet Jesus Christ my clarity
Sweet Jesus Christ my sanity
Bread of heaven, broken for me
Cup of salvation, held up to drink
Jesus the mystery

Christ has died,
Christ is risen,
and Christ will come again.