Carrie Underwood – Lessons Learned

I’ve really grown to appreciate the lyrics of Lessons Learned on the album Some Hearts by Carrie Underwood. I’ve added the song to this page above so that you can listen, too. It is one of those that you might not notice as much at first because of the other songs on the album but the writing is great and it’s one of those songs that makes you stop and think about your life. I like it. It’s deep. And you know me and deep. Well, I learned a few lessons today. Daniel and I are actually on our way to Portland, Oregon right now for his business trip. We’re sitting in the Oakland airport looking out at the bay after a 5 hour flight from Nashville. It’s beautiful…at least in airport standards. We just had a little California Pizza Kitchen (since we are in Cali) while waiting to get on the last leg of our flight. Lesson #1: I checked us into our Southwest flights about 20 hours prior to departure….only 4 hours after online checkin opened for them. Our Nashville flight was already in the boarding group B by that point. Apparently others have learned the lesson I just learned. I normally wouldn’t care that much, but when you are on a 5 hour flight with your husband (or friend, or family member) on your semi-vacation trip, you kind of want to sit together and the letter “A” is usually your only guarantee for that. So the lesson I learned is to always check in ASAP for long flights because it seems like everybody else is doing the same. Lesson #2: Once we arrived at our gate, we got in the “B” line which was already quite long only to discover when we were boarding that a second “B” line had formed about 5 people ahead of us. This second line truly was the second line because it was not there when we got “in line”…but they didn’t know that. I’m trying really hard by this point to not care that much but find myself stressing over this a little too much. So, I remain calm and promptly tell my husband I am worried about not getting to sit together and hoping that some how he will fix it. (Random side note: I’m sitting next to this girl who is typing like 1000 words per minute and I am simultaneously finding myself trying to type faster. Ha! My typing skills are looking pretty lame about now and I used to consider myself a pretty good typist. I’m laughing at this competitive streak I have going today. Keep reading.) As the friendly Southwest personnel calls for group “B”, I inch my way forward trying to keep my place in line. And the lines converge…dun, dun, dunnnnn. So there is jostling, and scrambling, and screams, and scratching….just kidding….but there definitely was an air of competition and king of the hill syndrome going on between me and a few other people. I wasn’t going to make a scene but I really did want to sit by my husband and I knew that every person ahead of me was going against achieving that goal. I compromised and let two people go in front of me. I made a mental note to be kind and smile and then I was just frustrated with myself that I was caring this much. So this part of the lesson is a little more vague to me but definitely encompasses kindness, chilling out, and strategizing in line a little better. Lesson #3: Ok, here is the real lesson. So we are boarding the plane and the announcement is made that every single seat on the plane will be taken. As we make our way to the back of the plane, it becomes evident that there are not two seats together in the entire aircraft. Erghhhh. So I’m instantly disappointed and immediately turn my attention to finding two seats close together. I’m feeling a little obsessive at this point and somewhat crazy but it is my husband after all and we are on our trip together right? So I find two center seats on subsequent rows and go for them after Daniel says “I guess this means we don’t get to sit together.” After climbing over the aisle seater and sitting down, I turn around only to see Daniel going to the very back of the aircraft. What?!?! I think. I mouth to him something about him sitting close to me and he shrugs his shoulders. I went from disappointed to hurt and furious in about 1.5 seconds. I can feel the angry vibe seething from me and am feeling very sorry for the people beside me at this point. I honestly wanted to cry which seemed absurd and ludicrous but I was so upset by it and then upset that I was upset. Gosh, I let my emotions get the best of me sometimes. I decided in the 10 seconds before I am supposed to turn off my phone to text Daniel and tell him that I’m hurt and mad. I wasn’t sure if this was a good idea but I had a quick decision to make and the next 5 hours was already looking long in my middle seat. As soon as I pressed send, he walked up the aisle and asked me to get my bags and come with him. I felt like I was going to the principal’s office only for the lesson to hit me like a ton of bricks. I spoke way to soon. He had gone to the back because he saw a way to get us together by using some of his mad negotiating skillz. I should have known. I cannot jump to conclusions so quickly…especially when it pertains to my husband. I knew this one! I’ve already learned this lesson before. And then, to top it all off, the flight attendant makes an announcement about switching seats so a newlywed couple could sit together on their honeymoon. Ugh….I am so selfish. The LBD Dual Significance: I was reminded by my sweet friend Emily yesterday to lighten up about some things. She’s one of the only people on this earth who could smack me across the face and tell me to straighten up something and I wouldn’t be hurt by it. She’s definitely earned the right to speak truth into my life but somehow does it in a way that humbles me rather than upsets me. Thanks, Em. I went into today determined to do just that on this trip and on the very first segment of it, I’m already struggling. However, I am comforted to know that even though it is blatantly obvious that I am selfish and weak, I have this promise to cling to: Hebrews 4:15-16 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Lord, thank you for your never ending supply of mercy and grace. Help me to live it out in every circumstance of life so that I make your name great and known rather than my own selfishness.

Although the Apostles’ Creed and Nicene Creed have been around for centuries, I believe in many ways we have a newer creed on our hands. Granted, I’m sure there is much more to the definition of a creed but every time I read these words or worship my Lord and Savior through this song, I am focused on Christ alone…who is the way, the truth and the life and is the only solid ground to stand on. Proclaiming these truths is a rich blessing and encouraging to the depths of my soul.

“In Christ Alone”
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2001 Kingsway Thankyou Music

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost it’s grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Brought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

The LBD Dual Significance: Psalm 29:1-2 “Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.”

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Thanks to the rec from my sister-in-law, I have just discovered www.pandora.com. I’ll let Pandora explain what they are:

At Pandora, we have a single mission: To play music you’ll love – and nothing else. Just drop the name of one of your favorite songs or artists into Pandora and let the Genome Project go. It will quickly scan its entire world of analyzed music, almost a century of popular recordings – new and old, well known and completely obscure – to find songs with interesting musical similarities to your choice. You can create as many “stations” as you want. And you can even refine them. If it’s not quite right you can tell it so and it will get better for you.

Why am I excited about this?
* It’s free. Of course they have a paid version, but the free one is pretty darn good. Simple set up process too.
* Because it’s free, you guessed it, they have ads. However, their ads are only graphic, not pops us, and use flash right on your Pandora page. So, if you are not on that page, you don’t see the ads. Also, the ones I have seen are done in good taste. So far, no Vic’s Secret or alcohol ads or anything close. And, there are no music interruptions like previous internet radio sites I have used!
* Great sound and no trouble streaming. It has not slowed my computer down nor has it “skipped”.
* The way it customizes your music is incredible. There is nothing worse than wanting upbeat music when your playlist somehow has an incredibly slow song mixed in. For your analytical types, check out their brief description of The Music Genome Project. Also, you still maintain control to edit your stations as you see fit.
* For you networking types and itunes fanatics, you can share your stations, use it on facebook, bookmark songs for later or purchase immediately from itunes. Did I mention you can have as many stations as you want?

For someone like me, whose husband rules the itunes library and organization of it, this is a great way to enjoy a variety of music, old and new, and discover new artists that I might not know about. Here’s to another day with Pandora!

The LBD Dual Significance: What I feed my mind is so important. Also, music affects me a lot. The genre, lyrics, etc., totally affect my mood and what I think about. So, I want to use music to my advantage as much as possible. If I need to get things done quickly, you better believe it is upbeat country music. If I’m just enjoying the day and happy about life, I’m in a Dave Barnes sort of mood. If I’m pensive, humbled, or grateful because of Christ, I’m listening to worship music. You get the idea.

Try it out and tell me what you think or expose me to something new that you’ve discovered! Thanks Andréa for the great rec!

Earlier this week, I had an experience that does not happen too often in my world. I had just found a CD that had six songs from my brother’s little high school band and was listening to it on the way to a family dinner. My brother and I were pretty close during those days and I was reminiscing about that great time in my life. I could remember all of the concerts at Daybreak Coffee House, the late nights we would stay up and talk, how we would play his guitar in the stairwell of our basement (I guess the sound was better in that echoey space), and leading worship in our student ministry.

The funny thing was, I had a smile on my face that would just not go away. Not an ordinary everyday smile, but a deep, genuine, BIG smile. The more I realized that I had a big smile on my face while I was all alone in my car, the more I was aware that it wasn’t going away. The more I paid attention to it, the bigger it became. Not that I wanted it to go away, but it was a weird phenomenon all the same.

When I finally arrived at my destination, I finished up listening to the last song, took a deep breath, and then tried to wipe the smile away. I guess I just didn’t want to have to explain why I had this gigantic smile on my face. It was almost embarrassing, a little out of control, and I guess a little personal all at the same time.

The LBD Dual Significance: I think it is absolutely awesome how our emotions have no knowledge of time. What made me smile happened about 10 years ago, but I was feeling happy about it in the present. My emotions didn’t know that it wasn’t happening in the present because I was thinking about it at that moment. So, it’s almost like I was able to experience the joy of that time in my life over again just because I was thinking about it. Wow, how powerful our thoughts are. I want my thoughts to be on…. whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable. Phil 4:8