I recently bought Dustin Kensrue’s solo debut album “Please Come Home.” Overall the album is somewhat Bob Dylan-esque and mainly features Kensrue’s gritty vocals alongside an acoustic guitar. The general impression that I get is an intentional rough-around-the-edges style of production, which is fine with me considering Kensrue’s lyrical credentials. It is something of a change, however, for this lead singer of the “Christian” metal band “Thrice.”
In any event, I am not writing a review of the album but I do want to recommend it. Kensrue is a Christian and the promo track “Please Come Home” is based on Jesus’ parable of “The Prodigal Son” (more accurately titled “The Compassionate Father,” found in Luke 15), and there are various not-so-subtle Christian themes woven throughout.
What I want to do instead of a review is reflect on some lyrics from the song “Consider The Ravens,” which I have been thinking about for a little while now. I am not entirely sure what drove me to think about these particular words in the way that I have, nor why the notions that I arrived at have seemed something new to me. But that is what happened. Here, then, are the lyrics:
“Between the river and the ravens I’m fed,
Between oblivion and blazes I’m led,
So Father give me faith, providence and grace.”
This constitutes the half of the chorus that I want to focus on, and it is set against the backdrop of a song that seems to speak in general about the difficulty of following a path for one’s life that seems true to God’s will. The main idea seems to be a struggle with how to bear up under hard times, and what to ask of God during those times. What I like about these lyrics is that I think they can take on a broader dimension of meaning when looked at from that perspective – at least broader than I would normally give them. So here is my own – admittedly questionable – extrapolation on what I would want to mean if I were in the situation that the song depicts.
“So father give me faith…” Please God, give me the faith that James speaks about, the kind that is evidenced by my works. The kind of faith that means more than a conviction or belief, but the faith that means continuing to struggle for the sake of your Kingdom during hard times. I am on this path for your Kingdom, please give me the faith to follow it. I need you to give me this faith God, because I’m sure that I don’t have it of myself.
…providence…” God, I need to know that you are being providential in my life during this time. I need to know that what I have chosen for my life is in accordance with your will, and that if I have somehow failed at this, that you will still give me some providence, that you will still help me to make the best of my time for your Kingdom. I need to know that my time will be worthwhile. I understand that I have salvation and that this is your providence as well, yet I ask – if you are willing – that what I am doing with be worthwhile for the sake of your Kingdom.
“…and grace.” Oh God, I know that I have forgiveness through your son. I know that I have already received more grace than I could ever understand because of what he has done, and because I have trusted in him. But Lord, yet daily will I sin and turn against you – and the same sins I have committed so many times before! I asked you for providence and faith, yet I will fail you in living out both of these as you set them before me. So Father, please, I ask for your grace. I ask for you to give me grace for those times that I fail you, to still allow me to be a useful servant to you. I am going to fail you, and I am going to need your grace during those times.
Anyway, that’s what I was thinking. Take it for what it’s worth.
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