Do you ever get a song stuck in your head? “Raindrops keep falling on my head…” is one I often find myself humming these days.
That’s what happens in spring in Melbourne. We get a lot of raindrops.
A new book
I recently bought a book of Bible verses to send to a friend for her birthday. I also purchased a Kindle copy for myself.
Buying a copy for myself was an impulse buy … I think. Or was it a Holy Spirit nudge? Where does ‘impulse’ end and ‘Holy Spirit nudge’ begin? These very questions reflect my Western worldview, and are irrelevant to this blog post. I bought it on impulse, and the Holy Spirit was likely behind it.
The very first devotion captured my attention. It was based on Psalm 19:14.
Hebrew terms for ‘meditation’
Pastor and writer Eugene Peterson has long influenced my understanding of the Biblical term ‘meditation’. In the classic, ‘Eat this book’, he explains the meaning of the Hebrew term ‘hagah ( הָגָה – Strongs 1897), often translated ‘meditation’ in the Bible. The word contains the sense of gnawing, chewing, and ingesting, Peterson said, just like his dog would gnaw on a bone for hours.
(Even though you may not have the book, you too can freely read Eugene Peterson’s excellent exposition on the topic here: https://www.christianitytoday.com/2007/05/eat-this-book-eugene-peterson/ )
The original Hebrew word used in Psalm 19:14, however, is slightly different. ‘Higgayon’ ( הִגָּיוֹן -Strongs 1902) is also translated ‘meditation’ in English. From what I understand through the helpful resources provided by Biblehub (see https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1902.htm), this word is more like background music, or whispering and murmuring.
I wonder if ‘higgayon’ has the idea of ‘the background music in your head’? Or recurring lines and themes from favourite TV shows?
‘Raindrops keep falling on my head,’ for example?
The background noise in your head
Do you have background noise in your head? If I sit still and listen, I hear a high-pitched ringing in my ears, a residue of some treatment nine years ago. It can be annoying if I let it.
Tinnitus is not what I’m talking about here. I’m thinking more of the songs that go around our mind; the plots from TV shows; the self-talk that aids or hinders our endeavours; and the resentments or joys, hopes or fears of our lives.
Sometimes, late at night, I watch something silly as a way to wind down. Often I wake up the next morning with lines or music from those shows stuck in my head.
Is that really what I want to be meditating upon?
This, I suggest, is what the Psalmist had in mind with this prayer: ‘May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, Oh Lord’ (Psalm 19:14).
Changing the background noise
As for my ‘ringing in the ears’, a doctor once advised me to simply ‘change the background noise’.
“Keep the radio on but don’t tune it to a station. Just have static in the background, then you won’t notice the ringing in your ears,” he suggested.
I often have the radio on in the background, but prefer it tuned to a station. I can live with the tinnitus.
What about the background noise in our heads that comes from repeated thoughts and mental chatter? Can we change the background noise?
I am preaching to myself here with the following suggestions, but you are welcome to listen in.
- Intentionality: May I notice the content of the ‘background noise’ in my mind.
- Praying Scripture: A good place to start would be the prayer from Psalm 19:14, that the meditations of my heart may be acceptable in God’s sight
- Follow the injunction of Philippians 4:8 to intentionally think about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy. (The preceding verses about not worrying but praying with thanksgiving are helpful too.)
Easier said than done, perhaps?
One thought at a time.
‘Raindrops keep fallin’….’
In preparation for this blog post, I finally looked up the lyrics of the song, “Raindrops keep Fallin’ on my Head.” I also read about the 1969 movie for which it was written – Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. I learnt that it followed the true story of two American outlaws, ‘Butch Cassidy’ and ‘Sundance’. They lived at the turn of last century.
Composed by Burt Bacharach and lyricist Hal David, “Raindrops” is the film’s breakout hit and its legacy song; an upbeat and indefatigable ode to feeling free. It remains an irresistible earworm….
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/09/raindrops-keep-fallin-on-my-head-history
Their story is perhaps not dissimilar to that of the swagman in Australia’s ‘Waltzing Matilda’. In both cases, the men, likeable characters but prone to take what was not theirs, valued freedom above anything else.
That is the point of the song. It is “an upbeat and indefatigable ode to feeling free.”
And yes, it is most certainly “an irresistible earworm.” I have never even watched the movie and still I hum the song when raindrops fall.
Free
The freedom enjoyed by the lead characters in the movie for which the song was written was temporary. Unable to live freely in the USA, they eventually fled to South America, where they were killed in a gunfight. A watery end awaited Australia’s poor old swagman about whom ‘Waltzing Matilda’ was written.
In contrast, ‘if the Son sets us free, then we are free indeed.’ (Paraphrased from John 8:36).
And ‘it is for freedom that Christ has set up free!’ (Paraphrased from Galatians 5:1)
Free indeed!
Raindrops and ruminations
As I admire the raindrops in my garden, I no longer have only the first line of that song stuck in my head. The last line is now bouncing about my brain too.
Because I’m free
Nothing’s worrying me
Now that I have spent time writing this blog post, the ‘Raindrops’ song is lodged more firmly than ever in my head 🎶.
One thought at a time……