Sunday, June 30, 2013

Song for Sunday: People are Strange

First The Doors have written/performed some good stuff. I don't actually know who does their writing and I am not a fan of everything they have done but I really like some of it, including today's "Song for Sunday."




I don't really know the specifics of what The Doors are getting at message-wise with this song, but at the moment I am reading it this way.

I spent the last few days at an Intercultural Conference and Multicultural Festival. In not too many years,  the US will have no majority ethnic group. The American Baptist Churches USA are already there. We are celebrating this, but as was pointed out to us, if we are honest, diversity -- real "share our lives" type diversity that goes beyond simple tolerance -- is hard.

Many of the people at the conference were refugees and new immigrants - from over a dozen ethnic groups. They share some of the same experiences of adjusting to American culture. Sadly, prejudice and even bigotry have been themes. 

So, today, I post this song to remind us that it is hard to be a new person in a strange place. I also want to encourage people to take this biblical command seriously:


Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 
     Romans 12:13    

For some people that may mean open our homes, but for others it could mean simply being friendly to strangers in our land. 

People are strange when you're a stranger 
Face
s look ugly when you're alone 
Women seem
wicked when you're unwanted 
Streets are uneven when you're down 

When you're strange 
Faces come out of the rain 
When you're strange 
No one remembers your name 
When you're strange 
When you're strange 
When you're strange 

People are strange when you're a stranger 
Faces look ugly when you're alone 
Women seem wicked when you're unwanted 
Streets are uneven when you're down 

When you're strange 
Faces come out of the rain 
When you're strange 
No one remembers your name 
When you're strange 
When you're strange 
When you're strange 

When you're strange 
Faces come out of the rain 
When you're strange 
No one remembers your name 
When you're strange 
When you're strange 
When you're strange


What do you think of this song?

4 comments:

  1. I love that song. I've never thought of it in the context of immigration and foreigners, but now that you bring it up, it really does seem to fit! Thanks for the new perspective.

    Also, I'd love to hear more about the conference!

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    Replies
    1. It is a good song, and this is a new way for me to think about it, too. Glad you liked it.

      I'll be posting more about the conference.

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  2. And an earlier command:

    Deuteronomy 10:17-18
    New King James Version

    17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. 18 He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing.

    Lynelle

    ReplyDelete