The Playlist

I like organization. I like things to have a predetermined place and be arranged in an orderly fashion. One look at my color-coded closet or multi-file-foldered computer will confirm that. I know – you’re shocked. J Anyway, my need to have things sorted, ordered, and filed carries over to my music as well.  I love playlists. I have one for almost any occasion: Workout and Cleaning, Praise, Happy Fun Songs, Car Songs, Praise, Morning Wakeup, etc. I used to have one specifically for the kids I babysit to listen to in my car. No matter what mood I am in or activity I am engaged in, I have just the right mix of songs for it. Ok, hit “pause” and travel back in time with me to the 80’s and 90’s. We had our own old-school version of the playlist then. We called them Mix Tapes. Sometimes a mix tape was random, and sometimes it was categorical. Sometimes we’d make a mix tape for someone else with songs that were special to them or us, or reminded us of them.

          I am truly convinced that God has a Jennabeth playlist. He knows what songs will resound with me and plays them when I need them. It is so cool to hear a song that is just what I need right then, or sums up my feelings completely. Today, for instance, I was reading my online devo and it was talking about resting in God, and giving Him your focus. That hit home for me because I’ve been guilty of being too busy to spend enough quality time with Him lately. So as I am praying and repenting letting busyness get in the way (How “Martha” of me!), my Pandora station switches songs and here comes “Strangely Dim”, one of my new favorite songs by Francesca Battistelli. How perfect! Once again, God hits play on the playlist right in time to get my attention and remind me that He cares and He’s here. And it is awesome. I just need to slow down enough to notice.