tonya tyner

Eric Johnson and Sonny Landreth

I know I promised the rest of my SXSW report, but really, who cares?  I have some great pictures and all that, but then I just went to the Old Settler's Festival last weekend and got a whole new set of opinions that no one probably cares about... I didn't create this blog to review music anyways; I don't know what I was thinking.  I mean, really.  What are my credentials?  I write Adult Contemporary Americana Folk Pop FFS.

But why did I (create this blog)?  It's only words.

Self-love?  Following the pack?  I don't think either, but I don't know.  Maybe it's the same reason I write songs.  Sometimes it feels like I have something meaningful and significant to say, and I just want to put it out there.  Example: during a particular cold spell, I was overwhelmed with compassion and pity for the homeless here in my town.  It struck me as I was sprinting from a warm building to my car...  How must it feel to have no shelter to run to?  I posted some prattle about it on Facebook and decided to pass out some hats, hand-warmers, etc., but a few days later I received a message from a friend who had read my FB status.  My words stirred within his heart and moved him to give away clothes and food to a homeless man he had seen huddled in an alley in the cold.  How powerful words can be...

I awoke today so very pleasantly without the chime of my alarm clock because I have the day off-- Good Friday, you know.  I started to think about words again and how, indeed, it was a good Friday because I have the day off, and trying to think of something non-cliche but still to that same effect to slap up as a meaningless FB post.  In nearly the same breath because that's how my mind works, I turned my thoughts to the history of Jesus and the significance of Good Friday.

When you think of the word 'good,' you may think "Yay!""Cocktails!" "Party!"  what-have-you, but "Good Friday" historically began as "Holy Friday." "Good" Friday is not a celebratory event, you see.  And whether you put the day on Wednesday or Friday is really insignificant, it represents the same bloody, awful thing:  the crucifixion of the Son of God.  Historically, the day is spent in fasting and prayer, in mourning... A beautiful, kind, loving man was murdered.  Think of the kindest, bestest person you know.  Someone that would take a punch for you... Go to jail for you...

Beaten.  Mocked.  Tortured. Murdered.

You might ask yourself, yes, but what does that have to do with me?  Everything.... because, essentially, we suck.  As hard as we try, we can't get it right.  Not to say we don't have our moments, but we screw up.  And often.  A lot.   No, really, think about it... Any mistakes you have lingering in the regret bucket in your brain?  I know I have a few...  It doesn't have to be really big, bad ones like murder or adultery or beating someone up-- things most everyone- Christians and non-Christians alike would probably agree on being "bad" or "wrong."  There's also the little things we do everyday:  not visiting that relative of ours stuck in a nursing home, being too harsh and quick with our tongue when someone irritates us (don't look at me like that; I'm not immune to sin either), avoiding eye contact with a beggar... I can think of an endless list where I fall short.

















So whether you believe it or not, as I understand it, the story goes that Jesus was murdered so that, despite the fact that we suck, we could still have a relationship with God. Atonement is the fancy word for it.  Holy Friday is a reminder of His death-- a reminder of what God did for us.  Because he loves us.  (Yes, I can write in fragments; I'm an English teacher, and I'm using it for effect.)  He loves us.  He loves me.  He loves you.  Whether you believe in Him or not, He loves you.  Whether you believe in Him or not, He was beaten and murdered  for you on this Holy day. 

There is "Good"-ness in that, of course, because without that sacrifice, we would all be totally screwed, but it doesn't feel like a party-type-of-"good." Again, think of your bestest friend taking that kind of hit for you. Not a party feeling really at all.  So today, on this Good Friday, on this Holy Friday, I feel remorseful about the times that I fail.  I feel inspired to try to BE better for my bestest friend... "good"... holy.... , and to do it the way that Jesus asked me to do it: 

1. Loving God.  
2. Loving others. 

Read it for yourself if you don't believe me, but the central teaching of Jesus boils down to those two things.  As awful as it is to think about someone being brutally murdered because I suck, I am thankful because... again, as I understand it, the story goes that 3 days later, my bestest friend (I'm talking about Jesus here) was brought back to life which means that the whole plan God had worked really well which means that even though we suck, we can have a close, personal relationship with God.  If you don't have one of these, you should go out and get one because they are AWESOME...  Side effects include joy, peace and all kinds of powerful things, not to mention eternal life, but again, see for yourself.

So THAT is what we get celebrate on Easter morning (well, that and the fact that I can drink wine again since I gave it up for Lent).  And THAT is Good (the Salvation, not the wine, although who am I kidding?  Yes, wine is good too).