Wouldn't That Be Somethin'?

 In 1998, Wayne Watson published a song called “Wouldn’t That Be Somethin’?” One portion of this song has captured my imagination for 18 years. The premise of the song is that the author is imagining what it would have been like to be a friend of Jesus when he was walking upon the earth. He says, “wouldn’t that be something?” The line that always catches my attention every time is, “I wanna be the kind of friend that Jesus would call.” Here it is in the broader context of the song:

I wanna be the kind of friend that Jesus would call
Yeah, you know if He had a telephone
At the end of the day
Just to talk about nothin', nothin'

Yeah, I wanna be the kind of friend He'd wanna be around
You know without a word, without a sound
Wouldn't that be somethin', somethin', yeah

The “kind of friend that Jesus would call” is a concept that inspires many thoughts: “What kind of friend am I?” “What kind of friend would Jesus call?” “Who are the friends of Jesus?” “Did Jesus actually enjoy hanging out with his friends?” “Did he find some of his friends dull?” “Did he wish to get away from some who wanted to hang out with him?” “How did he handle his celebrity status?”

Jesus truly was a celebrity. Celebrities in the first century were often the religious or political leaders of the day. Jesus was seen as both a religious and political leader and so a great many people traveled large distances just to see him or to touch his clothing. Some climbed into trees just to catch a glimpse of him. Jesus experienced the temptation of celebrity-ism. He was tempted to think of himself as special and more important than others. Certainly, he was special and important and so he had to guard his attitude toward others.

In one sense, because Jesus regarded all men and women with an equal love, we would all be the kind of person that Jesus would call, “if he had a telephone.” Yet, Watson is also speaking of striving to be the kind of person that Jesus would want to call and want to hang out with and want to sit with to “talk about nothin'.” What kind of person would that be?

I would suggest that it would be someone who had the same interests as Jesus. Jesus’ interests were all about his Father’s work. No, I don’t mean the carpentry business of his earthly father, but rather, the Kingdom of God interests of God the Father. As such, Jesus’ interests were the same as the Father’s interests: justice, life, beauty, joy, mystery, love, care for others, healing of pain, healing of wrongs . . . . Truly, that is the kind of person I desire to be, even as I fail miserably at caring about such things and gravitate toward my own self-interest or perhaps to the interests of my immediate family.

Which brings us to the next point, Jesus, as one who strove to be humble and recognize the temptations of being seen as a celebrity, would also encourage me to be humble and recognize my inability to be pure and righteous and self-less. He would be patient with my desire to “be somebody” and with my desire to have my own needs met. He would still want to be my friend even as he saw the ugly side of me.

At the end of one of Jesus’ long days of work, what would he need from those friends who sat around with him? Perhaps it would be that he would want to “talk about nothin’” or not talk at all. Perhaps he would need to be encouraged, blessed, worshiped, and honoured. Perhaps he would need his feet washed in silence. Could I do that? Could you? “Wouldn't that be somethin', somethin', yeah!”

Wouldn't That Be Somethin'?

(Listen while you read)

I had this dream and You were in it
There was this party and You were there
Simple evening with just a few close friends
People were pressing for Your attention

You were patient, everybody could see
But all the time You were lookin' round the room for me
But hey, after all, it's my dream

I wanna be the kind of friend that Jesus would call
Yeah, you know if He had a telephone
At the end of the day
Just to talk about nothin', nothin'

Yeah, I wanna be the kind of friend He'd wanna be around
You know without a word, without a sound
Wouldn't that be somethin', somethin', yeah

Is that so hard to imagine
The Lord Jesus as a friend like that
Spending time in the pleasure of your company
True companion like no other

You never had a friend like this
If you're havin' a little trouble believing
Come on, put yourself in my dream

I wanna be the kind of friend that Jesus would call
Yeah, you know if He had a telephone
At the end of the day
Just to talk about nothin', nothin'

Yeah, I wanna be the kind of friend He'd wanna be around
You know without a word, without a sound
Wouldn't that be somethin', somethin', yeah

Words and music by Wayne Watson. Copyright 1998 Material Music (Admin. by WORD MUSIC) / Word Music (A div. of WORD MUSIC) / ASCAP

Follow-up to Pacing the Cage

Yesterday's blog quoted Bruce Cockburn's amazing song, "Pacing The Cage." In that song sunset is a metaphor for aging and death. It is a dark and brooding song about the sundown stage of life. In this follow-up I quote Wayne Watson's "There Goes Sundown." It has some of the same melancholy and sorrow of a man looking back over his life. Yet, in this song, sundown is much more hopeful. It is a sign of God's faithfulness. Sundown represents another day that God has given us on this earth.
Certainly the song also contains the singer's mental struggle about whether it is better to be on this earth (growing old with that girl of his) or for the Lord to return and renew this life he lives. In this we hear echoes of the apostle Paul saying,

For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. (Philippians 1:21-24)

There is hope. God is faithful, he is good, and he knows the number of the days of a man . . . and a woman.

There Goes Sundown
(Words and Music by Wayne Watson)

Doomsday... Some day
But not today so far
Said this world wouldn't
Be here much longer
But look around, here we are.
Only God in his wisdom
Surely not me in mine
Knows the number of the days of a man
Every day he shows me a sign.

There Goes Sundown
There Goes Sundown
There Goes Sundown again.

Some days I pray this prayer more than others
For My Lord to come
When I'm weary of fightin'
When I'm tired of runnin'.
Other days I wanna stay around
Grow old with that girl of mine
Most of the future is out of my hands
He reminds me every day about this time.

There Goes Sundown
There Goes Sundown
There Goes Sundown again.

I Don't Believe
We've been forgotten
God's too faithful
He's too good at keeping
All his promises
He's gonna come for me
Just like he said he would.

There Goes Sundown
There Goes Sundown
There Goes Sundown again.

Incarnation

The incarnation of God is a concept that is difficult for many to understand and believe. The word simply means to take on flesh. One who is incarnate is embodied in flesh. Thus we speak of Jesus as being "God embodied in flesh" or taking on human form. It is a mysterious and difficult concept to grasp. This poem/song by Wayne Watson expresses why it was necessary for God to put on flesh and walk among us.

One Christmas Eve
(Words and music by Wayne Watson; 1994 Material Music/Word Music)

He was a loving father
Gentle master of his home
But all alone against their love for God
No Savior of his own
Unmoved and softly cynical
Of those he thought naive
God come to earth? A virgin birth?
No, how could anybody believe?

His Christmas evening solitaire
Beside the fire’s glow.
Out of the window tiny sparrows
In the spell of a chilling snow.
And moved with deep compassion
With a redeeming plan, he rose
He tried in vain to gather them
To a shelter from the killing winter cold.

Oh, but simple creatures seldom
Comprehend the ways of man.
Sometimes love expressed is met with doubt and fear.
He thought, “If I could only fly among you,
I know I could make you understand. Just for a moment walk beside you
I know it would all be clear.
It would all be clear.”

And even before the thought had left his mind
Christmas bells from far away
Reminded him of simple truth
He’d denied until that very day,
How Jesus born the Savior
Walked this earth with mortal man.
Another soul brought safely home
And Christmas would never be the same again.
It would never be the same.

God Never Changes

Let nothing disturb you.
Let nothing alarm you.
Everything passes;
God does not change.
All things are
Accomplished with patience.
He who has God
Is lacking in nothing.
God is enough.

St. Teresa of Avila (Spanish Nun, Mystic and Writer, 1515-1582)

Friendship

Sometimes we have a friend with whom we are comfortable. We can call them up and talk about nothing. We can sit with them and not have any words at all. I want to be the kind of friend that others would call at the end of the day just to talk about nothing. I want that kind of friendship with Jesus. Wouldn't that be something.

Wouldn’t That Be Something
(Words and music by Wayne Watson)

I had this dream and You were in it
There was this party and You were there
Simple evening with just a few close friends
People were pressing for Your attention
You were patient, everybody could see
But all the time You were lookin' round the room for me
But hey, after all, it's my dream

I wanna be the kind of friend that Jesus would call
Yeah, you know if He had a telephone
At the end of the day
Just to talk about nothin', nothing'
Yeah, I wanna be the kind of friend He'd wanna be around
You know without a word, without a sound
Wouldn't that be somethin', somethin', yeah

Is that so hard to imagine
The Lord Jesus as a friend like that
Spending time in the pleasure of your company
True companion like no other
You never had a friend like this
If you're havin' a little trouble believing
Come on, put yourself in my dream

I wanna be the kind of friend that Jesus would call
Yeah, you know if He had a telephone
At the end of the day
Just to talk about nothin', nothing'
Yeah, I wanna be the kind of friend He'd wanna be around
You know without a word, without a sound
Wouldn't that be somethin', somethin', yeah

Wouldn't that be somethin', somethin', yeah*

John 15:15 (NLT)
I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.

*Copyright 1998 Material Music (Admin. by WORD MUSIC) / Word Music (A div. of WORD MUSIC) / ASCAP

Rock Steady

Wayne Watson is a singer/songwriter who often captures my own feelings very well. Here are the lyrics to one of my favourite songs by Wayne Watson.

Rock Steady
Written by Wayne Watson © 1995 Material Music/Word ASCAP

Sometimes I feel I can walk on water
Sometimes I feel like I’d sink like a stone
Some days I feel like a king in a castle
Other days I feel like a man with no home

Sometimes I feel like a man on a mission
Sometimes I feel like I’m lost in space
Some days I hold to the law by the letter
Other days I lean on mercy and grace

Welcome to my rollercoaster
These ups and downs don’t bother me, you see

God is rock steady
Faithful ever ready
Through the good and the bad
Through the pleasure and pain
God is rock steady
Faithful ever ready
This world keeps changing
He is the same.

Sometimes I feel I’ve got faith to move mountains
The tough get going...well, you know the rest
Some days I feel like old doubtin’ Tommy
Crashing and burning with every single test

Welcome to my rollercoaster
These ups and downs don’t bother me now, you see

God is rock steady
Faithful ever ready
Through the good and the bad
Through the pleasure and pain
God is rock steady
Faithful ever ready
This world keeps changing
He is the same.