It’s Holy Tuesday (third day of Holy Week): and we get another peek into the spiritual journey with Chris Cornell.
He is singer, lyricist, lead vocalist, drummer, sometimes guitarist, and front man/member of bands Audioslave, Soundgarden, and Temple of the Dog. Like many of his contemporaries, he claimed his Heavenly prize far too soon and by suicide.
As you listen to his poetic verses, you’ll discover a deep spiritual wrestling with what it means to live a faithful life while following his calling as a musician and a human being. Please enjoy this artistic video of Chris’s Cornell’s song Sunshower.
“As long as you have the light, believe in the light so that you might become people whose lives are determined by the light.” -Jesus (John 12:36)
Cornell bears witness to the joys and challenges of living in the emerging Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. He lifts up the dualistic nature of this world– how difficult it is to live like people whose lives are determined by the light. Even though we believe in our hearts- our heads often lead us astray. When we experience disappointment, pain, anxiety, grief, and emotional wounds our minds can take us down dark paths of shame, guilt, and anger.
And then comes the blessing of the sweet sunshower. Reminding us that although our behavior may be immature and foolish during life’s ups and downs or twists and turns– it doesn’t ultimately defines us. Our gardens, or the fertile ground of our soul, may be gray at times– and yet…by the power of God our graces someday will flower and bear fruit in the sweet sunshower. We are intimately known, loved, understood and redeemed by our Creator. This is true for me, and it’s true for you too– and it’s true for everyone else. No. Matter. What.
The spiritual journey asks us to be awake. Be alert. Be aware. Notice what triggers us and leads us to our shadowed behaviors and dark places. Inviting us to discover how we might interrupt those cycles– so the sweet sun showers soak up all the rest and become our main focus.
Reader, what practices do you have in place to banish internal darkness and make space for flowers to grow in the fertile ground of your soul?
Brazilian photographer Leonardo Sens finally took the photo on he had long dreamed of on June 4, 2023 from Icaraí Beach in the Rio de Janeiro municipality of Niterói, which is around seven miles away from where 98-ft high Christ the Redeemer is located.