What's Your One Song ?

At church last week, my pastor showed us a clip from the movie, "Walk the Line." It's been ages since I've seen that movie. But, I'm glad that he showed it to us because I completely forgot about this part of the film.

Johnny Cash and his band are auditioning for record producer Sam Phillips. Mr. Phillips stops them after they sing a couple of the versus.

Sam Phillips: You know exactly what I'm telling you. We've already heard that song a hundred times. Just like that. Just... like... how... you... sing it.

Johnny Cash: Well you didn't let us bring it home.

Sam Phillips: Bring... bring it home? All right, let's bring it home. If you was hit by a truck and you was lying out there in that gutter dying, and you had time to sing ONE song. Huh? One song that people would remember before you're dirt. One song that would let God know how you felt about your time here on Earth. One song that would sum you up. You tellin' me that's the song you'd sing? That same Jimmy Davis tune we hear on the radio all day, about your peace within, and how it's real, and how you're gonna shout it? Or... would you sing somethin' different. Somethin' real. Somethin' YOU felt. Cause I'm telling you right now, that's the kind of song people want to hear. That's the kind of song that truly saves people. It ain't got nothin to do with believin' in God, Mr. Cash. It has to do with believin' in yourself.

Johnny Cash: [after a pause] I got a couple of songs I wrote in the Air Force. You got anything against the Air Force?

Sam Phillips: No.


Johnny Cash: I do.

For some reason, perhaps it's where I am right now in my life, but that scene really hit me in a way that kinda jolted me. If we're always looking at what other people have, trying to imitate the lives of others, and wanting the talents/lifestyle/material goods of other people, when do we have time to truly know ourselves?

It was a wake-up call to be truly authentic in life. Listen to what God intended me to be, and discover my own unique place in life. What are the gifts and talents that I have that honestly make me authentic? And, once I discover those things, it's not my place to just enjoy them for my own pleasure, it's my calling to serve other people by sharing my gifts and experiences.

Playing small and being fearful of who I am does the world no good. It's amazing to think that there is an original design to you. There are just things that you can only do.

So, how often do we just go on auto-pilot and not fully think about what makes us unique? It's pretty scary to think about. I hope that this wake-up call really sharpens my insight.