Tricia Rose Burt

writer, storyteller, speaker

Amy Grant

Something’s Wrong When an Amy Grant Album Is Deemed Not Christian Enough

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amyalbumAmy Grant, the best-selling contemporary Christian artist of all time, just released her first Christmas album in 20 years. Her new songs speak to both the joy and loneliness of Christmas. Her message is simple — you are loved and you are not alone, important words for everyone to hear in this very broken world. But according to Lifeway, a major distributor of Christian books and music, her album “is not Christian enough” and they are refusing to sell the record.

This Makes My Head Explode

I don’t want to speak for Jesus, but I’m thinking he’s a little confused.  Here are the lyrics to my favorite track on the album, “Melancholy Christmas.”

I post another picture from the quiet of my room

And wonder who’ll like it and wonder what to do

With the rest of tonight and tomorrow night too

Christmas is coming soon, coming soon

Maybe I’ll call up some friends just to see if they’re home

I don’t want to feel lonely, but I’m here alone

And the snow falls down, coming down

Merry Christmas

You could come over, it’s not too late

Don’t worry about presents, I’ve saved you a place

Merry Christmas

Light a few candles and sing Christmas songs

Everybody needs a place to belong

At Christmas, it’s Christmas

If you feel lonely I feel it too

If nobody’s said it I’m wishing you

Merry Christmas

Since Jesus loved the lonely and the forgotten most of all, I’m pretty sure he likes that song — even if his name is never mentioned.

Same Measuring Stick, Different Story

When I got divorced, I found out that there are Bible studies that actually forbid thewoundedhealerdivorced women to lead them. This fact makes me grit my teeth. My divorce brought me into relationship with God, who was with me on the front lines of my suffering. I believe in a God of second chances (and third and fourth, on to infinity). When given the opportunity, I can share stories of hope and God’s grace. But apparently in some circles, I’m not Christian enough, given my sordid past. (Lucky for me, my very insightful rector said, “Sounds like you’re going through a divorce made in heaven.”)

Henri Nouwen, the Dutch Catholic priest and theologian, makes a profound observation in his book The Wounded Healer:

The great illusion of leadership is to think that man can be led out of the desert by someone who has never been there.

A Mainstream Message of Love

I need to re-read Martin L. Smith’s  essay about the importance of loving Christians we do not agree with — as he puts it, “those other Christians.” I’m struggling these days, and not just because of Lifeway’s choice about Amy’s album. Some folks calling themselves Christians keep spouting words of judgment and division, often in the name of Jesus. I’ll take an inclusive message of love and hope for all people any day.

So go buy Amy Grant’s new album Tennessee Christmas at Target if you want an actual CD (and you get two bonus tracks) or online at Amazon and iTunes. Then give it to your friends and family that aren’t Christian enough. Unless we’re loving as radically as Christ did, that includes all of us.

Here’s “Melancholy Christmas” to whet your appetite.

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Big Risk, Big Reward

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I’ve always wanted to be a country music singer. The trouble is, I don’t really have vocal range. I can sing about an octave, which limits my song selections but not my dream. So when I’m alone soaking in a tub or driving in my car, I belt out what I can — usually Tammy Wynette.

Friends in High Places

As it turns out, in the past several years I’ve reconnected with my dear friend Amy Grant, who knows a thing or two about music. And last weekend, I had the great pleasure of performing “How to Draw a Nekkid Man” and conducting storytelling workshops at  a Creative Discovery event she hosted at the Ritz Carlton’s Reynold’s Plantation in Georgia. Veteran songwriter Leslie Satcher joined us and conducted songwriting workshops as well. Leslie’s written huge hits, including Martina McBride’s “When God Fearing Women Get the Blues” and Willie Nelson’s “You Remain,” which Willie told her was his favorite song he’d ever recorded. Basically, I was running with the singer/songwriter big dogs. And as long as I stayed securely in my storytelling world, I felt like a big dog, too.

LeslieAmyTricia
Leslie writing songs on the fly, while cracking us up at the same time.

We spent the day telling workshop participants — many of whom were not artists — to get out of their comfort zone, take creative risks, and be vulnerable; to not worry about being perfect. They fearlessly plunged in, having already shown tremendous courage by just showing up. After two days with these incredible people, their bravery started to rub off.

No Time to be Timid

At the concert Saturday evening, Amy stopped her set to invite several special guests on stage to sing. I was the first one. I said, “I’ve been asking y’all to take creative risks all day; it’s time for me to take one, too.” Frankly, I was a wreck. Then, with Leslie accompanying me, and Amy’s band joining in, I sang Tammy Wynette’s “I Don’t Want to Play House.”

Now, I’m not sure it was well thought out to make my country music debut with a six-time Grammy award-winner and Willie Nelson’s best friend, but I decided either to go big or go home.

TRBsinging
The sequins helped.

I wasn’t terrible.

Without the support of Amy and Leslie, who rehearsed with me and literally talked me through the performance, I could have never taken that risk. I couldn’t have done it without the workshop participants either, who gave me inspiration, and bless their hearts, a standing ovation (for effort, not talent). Two days later, I woke up with a host of new storytelling ideas rolling around in my head and later that week, I faced a first-time work challenge with a newfound confidence.  Apparently, stepping out of my comfort zone and scaring myself to death has jumpstarted my creative juices and helped me confront other fears as well.

Note to self: take a big risk, get a big reward.

For now, balance has been restored and I’m back to singing in the tub and in the car. Just in case, I’m going to start working on a new song. And I’m happy to take requests — but only if it’s in the octave I can sing.

Photo credits: Matt Huesmann

Let’s Stay in Touch

  • Share this blog with your friends — just use the icons below.
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  • Want to receive these blogs in your email inbox? Please register at the top right of this page. While you’re there, you can like my artist’s Facebook page and follow me on Twitter.
  • Spread the word — your voice is invaluable in bringing my work to new audiences.
  • Thanks for your support!

Women in the Driver’s Seat

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A protest drive, under the threat of arrest

On October 26, more than 60 women in Saudi Arabia got behind the wheels of cars to protest the kingdom’s ban on women driving, despite the threats of arrest.  In contrast, I’d just gotten back from performing my one-woman show, How To Draw A Nekkid Man, in Nashville, first at Amy Grant’s “A Tennessee Weekend,” and next at Vanderbilt University. Two women hired me to perform my show — one, a multi-Grammy winning singer/songwriter; the other, a PhD holding associate dean at a major university who teaches in the Gender Studies department.  I was hired to tell my story of self-discovery — on a stage, in front of large groups of men and women — that deals with, among other things, women’s issues. In the meantime, Saudi Arabian women are risking jail time so they can finally DRIVE A CAR.

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