plastic: a spiritual perspective

For the past three years, I have preached the Gospel Easter Morning including a pop song. The first year it was Widespread Panic's Diner. Last year Prince's I Would Die For You, and this year, the Grateful Dead's Ripple. Music is so inspiring to me, and it is an easy connection to relate to God, Resurrection, and new life through some of my favorite songs, even when they don't use traditional church language.

Easter Morning 2023

My earliest impression of the Grateful Dead was as a pre-teen, staying the night at long time friends of my parents and sharing a room with Monroe their son. Earlier in the day Monroe had sent me down a fairly steep hill on his old bike which had no brakes. I managed to stop by veering off the road into the open arms of a magnolia tree. Monroe was so cool. So that night, after having some Neapolitan ice cream we watched MTV. If you remember MTV, you’ll understand how excited he was that a music video of one of his favorite bands, the Grateful Dead had come on. We were all shushed as the opening notes of Touch of Grey played, and we watched a scene that could have been in Ezekiel’s valley of the dry bones. It was a concert scene but all the musicians were skeleton puppets. For all I knew at the time, the Grateful Dead were a skeleton version of the muppets. 

At that time in my life, I hadn’t started playing music, or started choosing what music I listened to. I just sort of listened to what came along from parents or friends, sort of like just going to the only church I ever knew, and to the only church camp I’d ever gone to. Not long after that time, the two things: church and music came together for me when a woman at church stared teaching me some chords and a friend and I stared leading music in our Episcopal church there in Southeast Texas. In the summer, I attended an amazing church camp called Camp Allen, then I attended a renewal weekend called “Happening” at which youth my age shared stories from their spiritual life. What I found there was an amazing, supportive community--it didn’t stay at a camp. We had a youth group at church, and I stayed in touch with friends. We grew together as we became more aware and alive to God in our lives. My spiritual life was launched, and it was on purpose that I went to church, and talked about God with friends. I also listened to music on purpose…mostly punk at first, but when I went to college in San Marcos, let’s say my musical tastes, and what I played mellowed out a bit, and included, on occasion, the Grateful Dead. 

I was surprised a bit later when my mom told me that Jerry Garcia, one of the frontmen for the Dead had died. I remember, not long after he died, a friend had a cartoon on his door that showed Jerry being escorted into heaven, and the caption read, “up here, we’re all grateful.” 

Music is such a spiritual experience. Even if it doesn’t use churchy language, it is often expressing the same deep mysterious truth of the presence of what I call “God” in my life. Language can be so helpful as we try to articulate our human experience of the divine; it can also become divisive and restrictive. God, who created heaven and earth, doesn’t need words to speak to us; God who created heaven and earth can speak in light and wind, even use us and our actions to speak love to the people around us. The Dead song, Ripple points to this reality. 

If my words did glow with the gold of sunshine

And my tune were played on the harp unstrung

Would you hear my voice come through the music

Would you hold it dear as it were your own

It’s a tricky thing to preach about the mystery of resurrection. No one was there to see it. No one describes it. It just happened, and those who were closest try to articulate the impossible. He wasn’t there…then he said her name, then a bunch of them saw him eat, then one of them touched him, but I’m getting ahead of where we are, at the tomb, and seeing life. 

We have heard this story before: 

It's a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken

Perhaps they're better left unsung

I don't know, don't really care

Let there be songs to fill the air

Ripple in still water

When there is no pebble tossed

Nor wind to blow

The life-giving story of Jesus’ resurrection is quickly lost when we try to pick it apart. It’s not about biology, and certainly not necromancy. It is about us--both our human struggles, and what frees us to live more fully--to die with Jesus and be raised to new life with him. We spend a lot of our lives like skeletons on strings. Giving into whatever is around us. We forget where we came from, we forget what a gift this life is. The Creator is what truly animates us, and the gift of the Holy Spirit empowers us to actually live life. We have an amazing gift. It’s right now, and it is to be shared with the people around us. Come out from the tomb, or see that it is empty and step away from it. This has happened: life. You are alive right now. Eat some fish, touch someone, go tell your story that doesn’t even seem real to you. 

Reach out your hand, if your cup be empty

If your cup is full, may it be again

Let it be known there is a fountain

That was not made by the hands of men

Ripple in still water

When there is no pebble tossed

Nor wind to blow

We are invited to join others in finding our own way…living life in the Spirit is about discerning what gifts we have to share with the world; how to share ourselves, as Christ shares himself with us. He empowers us to go forth into the world…he has led the way, we have nothing more to fear. I can’t tell you what your life will be like, but the Holy Spirit can…

There is a road, no simple highway

Between the dawn and the dark of night

And if you go, no one may follow

That path is for your steps alone

Ripple in still water

When there is no pebble tossed

Nor wind to blow

You who choose to lead must follow. 

But if you fall, you fall alone

If you should stand, then who’s to guide you? 

If I knew the way I would take you home…

Sing this part with me…

Dat da da da…