The Heart of Things ~ Music the Great Storyteller

Rock opera from the seventies shook the teens of that decade into a frenzy. Pete Townshend and his band with Roger Daltrey wrote and performed Tommy by the WHO, a British rock phenomenon.

Adults questioned: The Who? What? and Tommy, why? Fast forward to 1975, when this rock album became a British Musical Film. From this movie came a list of heavy hitters from that era in the entertainment world. These artists names are even well-known today, Anne Margaret and Oliver Reed. Also, Sir Elton John, Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, Jack Nicholson, and Roger playing the role of Tommy, and the lead singer of the WHO.

The album and film drew a lot of media attention, stirring up controversy. When they first came out. The BBC and several U.S. radio stations banished this Rock Opera from being played. Today, Tommy’s creators currently hold a place in the Grammy Hall of Fame.

What’s our current status: forward momentum, backsliding, or stagnation? I suppose it lies in our perception and perspective. Yes, this particular Rock Opera, when interpreted by song facts or music theorists, or from various alternative or religious groupings. Provide comments and impressions that are miles apart, from East to West, to quote a song by Casting Crowns, a current and favorite Christian Rock Band formed in 1999.

Now, as I am much older; yes, people, I said it; I am in that phase of life; I hear the music of today, and I must dig deep to find a perspective on some of the stimulation that is presented to our youth today. Some art disappoints me. Especially an, I don’t care what you say lyric that is not conducive to any positives. It may vent or share someone’s interpretation of the world through a vomited eruption of profanity and sinful exploration. Not all music appeals to everyone. Those rants may have a purpose unbeknownst to me, or the slightest thought and talent goes into creating them.

Art is always about interpretation, how we see things. As an adult, I think about songs from my childhood. Even though I grew up in a Christian home, those songs still influence my music today. I can list all the tunes I used to sing around campfires, including some that weren’t very family-friendly. To grow up in the real world allows exposure to talented artists and musical styles that shape many genres now. Technology and digital tools made discovering music easier and more exciting. When used well, these tools highlight the message of a song rather than hide it. They can add meaning but shouldn’t replace real artistic expression.

Remove the mask and it reveals what is truly underneath. We must be careful to do the work that makes reality unavoidable. Once the surface issues are dealt with, we can see genuine progress or the lack of it. The impact of each generation touches everyone. How we see and interpret those influences changes everything.

As many would attempt to place our youth in a bubble that washes them, keeps them from boo-boos, and protects them from any infectious germ, so to speak, this image is unrealistic.

Creating a happy, healthy home filled with good communication is very possible. This can be done by focusing on messages that show Christ in everything. Are we, as this generation, building homes full of love and strong family values? Are we living with less judgment and more chances to learn from each other? A home that puts Christ first in all things—people, music, and life itself—and reflects God’s love. This love should be gentle and careful, shining a light into the chaos and messes of daily life. It’s about showing God’s love even when things aren’t perfect and turning life’s problems into opportunities to reflect His grace.

Christians must be in this world, yet not of it to do this. We want all influences to see the good, and we must examine ourselves as sinful saints. His blood and belief in Him, we are saints, yet we continue to battle sin. However, we know we will always desire to be with Christ forever. We are also bound in the weeds of evil. If not aware of our perception and perspective, we can get caught in this snag. We, too, could become one of God’s most precious yet fallen; only in Him can we pick ourselves back up, brush off and move toward Him.

If our perception is authentic and in that of love and understanding, our perspective of how to make this world more like what we seek in Christ is possible. To take things at face value is not what Christ is about; instead of looking at the heart of a person or an influence, that is where we find the truth. And even from this piece of iconic history, it can have a whole new meaning when we take something and make it beautiful.

This Rock Opera touches on dark themes like sin and pain. It shows anger, fake idols, divorce, cheating, drugs, disability, and autism. It also exposes how we often ignore what’s wrong. These issues are not just stories; they are real problems today. The high divorce rate keeps climbing, and the rush for quick pleasure is everywhere. These false idols make it easy to want instant satisfaction. The show reveals a sad truth: many of these problems are now normal parts of life, and that’s troubling.

Gossip, social media, judgment, even righteousness have catapulted us to a place where no one could be free from a fall. We must see the beauty of Christ through the fog and the clouds of sin to reach for His message in all things. To seek the whys of His allowances to life’s struggles and even the missteps of crime is where we find Him.

Trust in His promises, this is where and how we find the heart of Christ in all things. It’s complicated to remain among life’s weeds. We need to cut through the entanglement and be the wheat growing alongside, hoping to stomp out the plants and increase the crop, always forgiving and holding one another accountable in love.

As I sit here thinking about perception and perspective, I know many will ignore the message just because of the words used. Yet, if we look at something we think is wrong, the way Christ might, we can find its true beauty. Sometimes, seeing with a kind heart makes all the difference. It helps us see the good that might hide beneath the surface. Even in things we dislike, there can be something worth noticing if we change how we see it. The way we view the world can make all the difference in understanding its deeper meaning.

The song See Me Feel Me ~ Listening to you ~ by the WHO

Some see only sin

There are those that see Tommy as an idol image for the lost and corrupt to follow

Then some see sun worship, or psychedelic drug interpretation

We all know what it is like to be a sinner, climbing the mountains of corruption, wanting to be washed and always looking up, begging God to be at the feet, saying, see me feel me.

I do not care what it was supposed to mean, but his is how I look at it, listening with my heart, wanting all to be for Christ, our King. You can see the same thing in the song: Does anybody See Her by Casting Crowns? Sometimes we must take the pieces of something terrible and put them together again for the lessons and the good it can always become—especially when seen in the proper perspective of God’s Love.

What do you see? I guess it’s a matter of perception and perspective.

These readings may give some perspective, but be careful of interpretation. It’s crucial how we perceive each other, since God sees the goodness in everyone and everything. It matters that we know what He is saying to us individually and collectively. God Bless.

Psalms 53-55 For the Director of Music

These verses eloquently depict sin’s struggles and the necessity of surrendering to God.

Matthew 13: 30-40 Let the wheat and the weeds grow together

I heed God’s message. I am so sorry if I misstep; I assure you; I know who is in my heart.

PEACE in your stages