Be the Revival

Over the years there have been a lot of people jump into the country scene. Especially the red dirt country. These days there are a lot of people who are stomping over each other at concerts to get close to Parker McCollum or even Koe Wetzel.  For most though there is an artist that did so much for music before his tragic death. Brandon Jenkins’ soulful songs stretched across generations of people. He penned hit songs that many artists picked up such as: Feet Don’t Touch the Ground, Texas Moon, and The Whole World’s Gone Crazy. His song Be the Revival is one of my favorites.

                “In this life, we all learn faith in different ways, to make it through.” Some of people where brought up in the church and are still devout Christians. Others lived in horribly broken homes and sought salvation in other areas, like a bottle or a needle. There is a faith that each person finds in their life. They believe that it will be their only way to handle what they are going through at that moment in time. You must “Muster all the strength you can borrow and live for tomorrow.”

Brandon Jenkins was a tremendously talented individual. He could sing, perform and more importantly, was a writer of music. His words were like poetry on paper and gave musical life to himself and many others. Music has always been a great expression of one’s self. You either relate on many levels to the music or the words just simply touch your soul. Brandon Jenkins made you think about yourself. Like “know your faith is linked to your survival.”

It is always good when you hear a song and it brings back memories. Especially those memories that makes you smile. When I was younger, my mother would play the piano and we would sing with her tune. When I hear a song that we would sing, it brings a smile to my face. There are other songs that I’ll hear, and no matter where I am, bring a tear to my eye. Music is a powerful tool. The emotions it can bring forth can drive you to drink or to conquer the world. In some instances, it does both at the same time. Thinking of that smile on my mother’s face when she played the piano was her time to “Be the Revival.”

In my short time on this earth, I have yet to meet a perfect person. There is no one individual who is the ideal specimen. It is like the all elusive perfect show calf. You will get close, but they do not really exist. In my opinion that is okay. I believe that God made us all in his likeness. He himself was a flawed man who sacrificed his only son for us all. If you think you are invincible, you are wrong. “There is only so much time we have on this earth to do our work before our race is run.”

“We’re so much better than the worst deeds we’ve done.” I know for myself there are moments I wish I could take back and do over. Then I think to myself, I am the man I am today because of those moments. I am better than the worst deeds I have done in my life. We all are better. At the core of every person is good. Sometimes all we can do though is try to “Lift your eyes and see through the sorrow.”

Since there is no person on this earth that is perfect. We must make the best of what we are given. If you have shelter, food and clothes on your back, be thankful. If you have more than that and can give back, then do so, “Be the Revival.” Be the reason that someone can lift their eyes and see through their sorrow. If we all “know your faith is linked to your survival.” We might have a different outlook on life.

If we, as a society, will stop looking at people as perfect individuals and recognize each other’s flaws, including our own. We might start to judge others less. There is so much hatefulness and vial comments made everyday on social media and around the country. It is not because of one person. It is because we have lost our faith. That didn’t happen overnight. That happened over decades of people not being able to muster any strength to do things for themselves and being told you didn’t have to see through the sorrow. The problem is you do, you have to lift your head up, work through the pain and move on, because you need to live for tomorrow.

“We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.” ~Ernest Hemingway

Click here to listen to this song and see the words to Brandon Jenkins song, Be the Revival.