Listen attentively, listen with faith

JRR Tolkien claimed that truly great fairy tales are always true. What he implied by this

statement is that all good fairy tales contain certain elements that are true to real life, for

instance that good will triumph over evil and that one should always do unto others what

you would have them do unto you.

A modern fairy tale can be found in the movie August Rush. It tells the story of 11 year old

Evan Taylor who has grown up in an orphanage, separated from his parents. He sets out on

a journey to find them. The common factor that reunites them at the end of the film, is the

amazing musical talent that he inherited. This ability enabled him to hear music all around

him, and to follow wherever it lead him. When other people merely heard sounds and

noise, he could listen in depth and hear hidden rhythms and melodies that created a breath-

taking symphony in his mind. The film begins with Evan saying the following:

“Listen… can you hear it? The music….I can hear it everywhere: in the wind…in the air…in the

light….it is all around us. All you have to do is open your soul up….All you have to do is

listen.”

Later in the film, when he is asked how he hears the music he replies:

“When I wake up it is there. Sometimes I hear it when I walk down the street. It’s like

someone is calling out to me.”

The sad reality is, however, that despite the fact that everyone is surrounded by sounds, the

majority are unable to hear the music. Due to the fact that they do not stop and listen

attentively the ordinary remains ordinary to them. The sounds remain a disordered noise

that does not make any sense.

Others may hear the music, but remain untouched by it. In the film there is an evil

character, named Wizard. He abuses the music to gather wealth and power. He uses street

children to play music on street corners for money. He then collects it from them and

subsequently he grows rich. The music never penetrates his hard and selfish heart. He

remains untouched by the inherent beauty in the music. The only thing that drives him is

figures, rules and profit!

John, the evangelist, explains that faith in Jesus works in the same manner. Translated into

the language of August Rush, Jesus is God’s music. He is the song that God sings. If we want

to know God’s heart and what His favourite song is, we can just look at Jesus. We must

believe in Him and then we will see His glory.

“(It) was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory… “ (2:11)

“We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son…” (1:14)

Jesus revealed His glory and John and the others saw it.

Furthermore He states:

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the

glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.”

The word that John uses for “glory” is the word “doksa.” This word actually means

something like “overwhelming beauty.” It implies an enchantment that touches one’s heart

and brings healing, just like music does, and that calls forth all that is good in life!

All beauty in this world, everything that touches our heart strings, is a sign that points to

Christ. Everything good originates with Him and is part of His glory.

Just as some people in August Rush were unable to hear the allurement of the music,

people in the world are unable to see this Godly glory. John testifies that the Scribes did not

even see Jesus’ splendour when he performed miracles! Rather they condemned Him for

working on the Sabbath. Like the character, Wizard, they heard the music, but lived past the

wonder of it all. People like this abused and contort it –sometimes even in the name of

Christ- into legalistic practices that maim the spirit and smother the soul.

Christ, however, wants us to see His glory because this glory has its origin in the love

between Him and the Father. This love is powerful enough to draw people together, to heal

all wounds, to lead to forgiveness and above all to give meaning to life.

Jesus is the melody of life, the music of God. It is available to anyone who is willing to look

past the superficiality of our hurried lives and who is willing to listen attentively.

“Listen….can you hear it? All you have to do is open your soul up…All you have to do is

listen…”