Yes, I’m talking about lyrics from Madonna…and, a confession. I, like many other twenty something females in the late 80’s and early 90’s, channeled a bit of Madonna’s clothing style. If not her, then I borrowed some looks from Janet Jackson and Paula Abdul…don’t judge me☺ I was a hip hop dancer and choreographer and carried a flare for the edgy look…still do. But just because I wore my bangs big, a long stack of black rubber bracelets up one arm, or the denim mini-skirt, showy earrings, and fitted crop top or even the cut off t-shirts, it doesn’t mean I interpreted their music the same way. I don’t care what a song’s intended meaning is; it speaks differently to every individual. I danced and choreographed, and dressed, using my personal interpretation of songs and of life.
…And this past week, God surprisingly opened up the words, “just like a prayer, I’ll take you there”, in a way that speaks to me, Jené Ray Barranco.
Just like a prayer, I’ll take you there…this small phrase recently kept me tossing all night. Now, a week later, the reverberations of these words linger, they echo in my head 24/7-this track has no pause or stop button. I hear only the words, no music…Why? I finally ask God if He has something for me in this- I feel He’s leading me somewhere with this small phrase from a wildly popular, and controversial, song released by Madonna in 1989.
I’m a questioner, a seeker of meaning, an adventurer, an excavator looking for truth, with an insatiable appetite to discover the authentic, and the beauty, which takes intentionality to discover. God created me this way and it drives everything I’ve ever written. It drives my life choices and the direction my feet take on the paths I charter. At first, these paths seemingly appear to be rabbit trails, yet are not rabbit trails at all. Instead, they are subtle invitations from God to go with Him on an adventure where He has something to show me. The result is a greater connection with my Creator and a deeper understanding of creation. My soul expands on these little road trips with Him, just as lungs expands with a deep breath, receiving everything the body needs for continuance of life.
I’m reminded of a prayer request I wrote in my journal January 4th, 2020. “Send me messages, love notes from You, through the channel of music…through all forms.” This was not a premeditated request but words that flowed right out of the depths as my pen flowed the desires of my soul onto the paper. God knows music speaks to my innermost, intimate being, the deepest places where my own words feel inadequate. I set aside every January as a month for intense time of pressing into God and seeking His guidance for the New Year with introspection, opening my soul to the rabbit trails, as well as the main paths He is opening for me. I want to embrace every adventure He may be preparing for the two of us on the roads we will create together.
A week ago a friend of mine responded to an email of mine with a quote from the author/speaker/teacher Joseph Campbell. It surprised me because, outside of the people in my writing world, I had never heard anyone mention his name, much less share a profound passage from his writings.
…Enter Just like a prayer, I’ll take you there
With Joseph Campbell’s work recently being spoken into my life again, I’m reminded of a well-known quote of his as I begin to write this morning. If you can see your path laid out in front of you step by step, you know it’s not your path. Your own path you make with every step you take. That’s why it’s your path.
Just like a prayer, God takes me there, alongside Him, on the path we make with each step we take together…even on the rabbit trails. These rabbit trails are my path. I discover this path through experiencing life with each courageous, willing, reverent, step I take into the unknown.
Prayer is an interacting with God. It connects me to Him, joins us together-we are listening to one another-walking with one another. Any time I interact with Him, feel connected to Him, it's just like a prayer because in, and feeling, His presence.
…Thanksgiving and a grateful heart are prayers.
…Time spent with Him is prayer.
…Prayers and worship carry the power to transport us out of our circumstances and into His presence.
…When I chase after these kinds of prayers, I blaze my own path with Him by my side.
And just as songs speak differently to each individual, so forms of prayer speak differently to each soul and connect us with God…they take us there, enraptured into His presence.
For me, these lyrics from Madonna resonate with my spirit in this way. God whispers this to my soul…Just like a prayer, I’ll take you there, into My presence. He can take me there without a written prayer, without being on my knees, without being in a church…He’s God, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, creator of ALL things! The Creator of my body, soul, spirit, and mind. I follow Him on the side roads with a spirit of an adventurer, and pause to honor Him, to experience His beauty in all things.
When I experience beauty, I experience Him…just like a prayer.
“Like a Prayer”
Snowcapped mountains, crisp air in my lungs, awe overcomes me… just like a prayer, it takes me there.
Evening light at ocean's edge, sand underfoot, waves rhythmically crashing, baptizing me in peace…just like a prayer, it takes me there
Full moon on a dark lapis sky, God’s beauty leaves me breathless…. just like a prayer, it takes me there
Ancient cathedral enveloped in silence, acoustic vacuum swallowing my steps, elevating my soul…just like a prayer, it takes me there
Morning mist rises on a lake, hope colors the horizon, thankfulness swells…just like a prayer, it takes me there.
Symphonic calls of geese crescendo overhead, decrescendo, contentment exhales from my soul…just like a prayer, it takes me there.
Midnight glory casts across my bed, the light of the moon romances my heart…just like a prayer, it takes me there
Ethereal notes, operatic pitch, pulling a gasp from my lungs it lifts me to a heavenly realm…just like a prayer, it takes me there, raptured right into His presence.
