I became a follower of Jesus when I was fifteen. Sometime after that I became a huge fan of Bob Dylan too. Not that Bob and Jesus are on the same level—although they are both Jewish (for whatever that’s worth). It’s just that I kept picking up key insights about God, life, death, faith, doubt, hope and host of other things through Dylan’s music.
So I’ve decided to blog about some of this. I’m not sure why—literary therapy perhaps. If any of this resonates with you that’s cool. If not, that’s okay too.
Why did Bob’s music move me so? Why does it still? In asking the question I feel a bit afraid, as if reflecting on this does Dylan an injustice unless I write something so profound (which often means no one really gets it) that my words carry a mystical quality about them.
Screw that. I don’t care about being mystical…or witty…or clever. I am, however, interested in the uncanny parallel between my earliest days as a believer in Jesus and how much of the gospel I gleaned from Dylan’s songs. As I devoured the gospels (and the rest of the Bible), some of the profound truths I was learning from scripture kept finding expression in Dylan’s songs.
Take, for example, “Every Grain of Sand.” It’s a song about trying to find meaning and hope during the seasons of life that make no sense, or when we screw up. The Bible has much to say about pain, suffering and screwing up. But it also talks about God’s presence in the midst of it all…that God sees and knows and loves. Jesus talked about God caring so much about us that not a hair will fall from our head without God’s knowledge and awareness.
Every Grain of Sand…one of many songs that stirs my soul and connects me again to the gospel that changed my life. Thanks Bob.
By the way, I posted a link below to some girl from the UK doing a very slow, soulful version of Every Grain of Sand. But being technically challenged, I have no idea if it will actually appear. I hope so because I dig this girl’s simple, slow, soulful rendition.
