Today I had an odd thought strike me while listening to a once-popular song from the 80s by Foreigner. It is often referred to as a power ballad and usually associated with romance. While I'll arge that a love of the so-called love songs are often really not, I do believe that it was intended to be one in this case. After the thought occurred to me, I did some quick research and found that some uncanny words by Mick Jones about the song: “I don't know where it came from. I consider it a gift that was sent through me. I think there was something bigger than me behind it. I'd say it was probably written entirely by a higher force.”
His quote seemed almost providential to me. The reason is because as I listened to the lyrics this morning, I heard them from a differnt frame of reference. Rather than hearing the song about a man seeking love from a women to help complete him and overcome the challenges in his life, I thought of the singer as making an inquiring plea to God to give him a deeper significance in his life. The love that the lyricist wanted to know was not eros but rather agape, a love that only God can offer.
Being a Christian, I do adhere to the shared belief that the secular search for significance is actually a misguided attempt to find meaning and worth through worldly achievements and validation, but in truth, what is being sought is the engrained desire to have a relationship with God through Christ. I believe this is evident through movies like The Matrix, comicbooks like Superman and other songs, for example Meant To Live by Switchfoot. However, I had never considered this particular song to fall into the category of searching for significance. Now having this different perspective, I almost feel fatuous for never having seen it before. Nonetheless, I am grateful for the epiphany granted me today.
I Wanna Know What Love Is
I've gotta take a little time
A little time to think things over
I better read between the lines
In case I need it when I'm older
And this mountain, I must climb
Feels like the world upon my shoulders
And through the clouds, I see love shine
It keeps me warm as life grows colder
In my life, there's been heartache and pain
I don't know if I can face it again
Can't stop now, I've travelled so far
To change this lonely life
I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me
I'm gonna take a little time
A little time to look around me
I've got nowhere left to hide
It looks like love has finally found me
In my life, there's been heartache and pain
I don't know if I can face it again
I can't stop now, I've travelled so far
To change this lonely life
I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me
Let's talk about love
Love that you feel inside
I'm feeling so much love
Oh, you know, you just can't hide
I wanna know what love is
I know you can show me
(I wanna feel it too)
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me
(show me love is real)
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me