The ground you walk on's sacred / The sky above awaits you

Dave Pirner, trying to shake
all those worried troubled
thoughts on out of his head

Moving right along with my next attempt to spiritualize an already pretty dang spiritual piece of art: Soul Asylum's Grave Dancer's Union album… Our sixth song is a driving declaration of resolve with grinding guitars and a speedy, desperate delivery:

GET ON OUT

I gotta get on

I gotta get on out

All these worried troubled thoughts gotta get on out of my head

Gotta get on out of my head

Will I be on the streets tomorrow

Will I have to beg and borrow

Will I have to go back to the job I left behind

Could you still make it

With a guy who never made it

Would you look into my eyes if I were to go blind

Gotta get on

I gotta get on out

All these worried troubled thoughts gotta get on out of my head

Gotta get on out of my head

Now will you leave me for another

Send me running back to mother

Will I have the time to tell you how I really feel

Am I just getting slower

Or are you just talking faster

Do we need bad disaster to make it plain to see

That all these worried troubled thoughts gotta get on out of my head

Gotta get on out of my head

Do I just feel like cryin'

Cause I'm sick and tried of tryin'

Trying to convince you this ain't how it has to be

The ground you walk on's sacred

The sky above awaits you

So cast all your frustrations to the bottomless sea

Gotta get on

Gotta get on out

All these worried troubled thoughts gotta get on out of my head

Gotta get on out of my head

More self-talk from our growing boy. First, he lists his fears and then declares his intention to expel them from his overworking mind. It's no secret that what we tell ourselves can make a big difference. We can go around thinking that we are one step away from disaster, or we can remind ourselves of what is good and hopeful... count our blessings, that kind of thing. Like Paul said: 

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8)

Jesus telling them not to worry

What's really cool is that this follow quite soon after this line: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God," followed by this result: "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

It's like what Jesus said in the famous Sermon on the Mount, 

"So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:31-34)

So… if Jesus were talking to the writer of this song, maybe He would say, "This ain't how it has to be. / The ground you walk on's sacred / The sky above awaits you / So cast all your frustrations to the bottomless sea."

This guy, also, would rather you not worry.

Alternately, when I hear this song, I hear a guy telling his girlfriend about his insecurities, which may or may not be warranted. Maybe he's just paranoid… or maybe she's one of those mercurial folks who never want you to be sure of where you stand. So maybe it is he who is saying, "This ain't how it has to be." 

And he's right. Our relationships should not be like this. Sadly, though, they sometimes are… because our relationships are with imperfect human beings. Of course, it's healthier to seek out folks who are steadfast and true, but how can one know before getting involved? Plus, it's the crazy mercurial types who can be so dang exciting to be around!

I'm not really going anywhere with this… just… Our relationships with people are not going to be perfect or perfectly fulfilling... but we should probably try to seek out healthy ones. And ultimately, if I rely on a person or thing (job, money, accomplishments) other than God, the Perfect One… who knows what I need and will never let me go, then I might well feel a tad insecure. But if I fix my mind on Him… well, I have been promised mind-blowing peace... (Plus, He's pretty exciting to be around!)