-Frederick, United States Penitentiary Tucson in Tucson, AZ
In this series of essays, I wanted to write for those with loved ones in prison, to give them hope that nothing is impossible. Sadly, most want to believe that, but have resolved to accept the sad, “Fact,” that their loved ones in prison are doomed.
For them, “There ain’t no sunshine.”
So, I’m listening to a special version of the song, “Ain’t No Sunshine,” originally by Bill Withers. This version that I have, however, is the Lido Remix, which is a very cool version of the classic song. I’m using this song because it is very energetic, which is the polar opposite of the actual tone of the original song.
“Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone…only darkness everyday…”
Do you feel like that right now? Do you feel like it’s complete darkness with your loved ones in prison? Do you wake up with a ton of grief siting in your heart? Do you drag yourself around with a thick rope tied around your waist, pulling what feels like a dead elephant? Is it hard for you to see light on these dark days?
“She’s gone.”
“My husband’s gone.”
“My brother’s gone.”
“My son’s gone.”
There’s no sunshine, only cloudy days and constant rain. As I listen to the song, I hear the lyrics of Bill Withers. I remember working at one radio station and one thing that I loved about this song was the fact that it was one of the shortest songs to play. If I needed a short song to play before the top of the hour, since we carried the news feed at the top, I would play this one. If I can remember, the original song was just about two minutes…very short.
This Lido Remix Version is three minutes with six seconds. Still quite short. While this can be a sad song, let’s flip this to make two points: One, this is a Remix. Two, Short song….
I don’t get it. What’s that got to do with my loved ones in prison?
Plenty of it. First off, this is a short song. It’s ok to feel down. We are all human.
Well, actually, let me take that back. If you’re reborn and you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, you’re actually not human. You’re a spirit. You were recreated in the image of God, and God is a spirit. So, you’re better than a human. As such, it’s okay to feel down, but you don’t let it just stay. Keep it short, like this song. After that, strengthen yourself to fight for your loved one.
How? By knowing the word of God. The song I’m listening to has a part that goes:
“I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know”
So, what do you know? You know that there is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus. You know in all things you are more than a conqueror through Him who loved us. You know no weapon formed against you will prosper and every tongue which rises against you in judgment, you shall condemn.
You know that it is God who avenges you and subdues the people under you. You know He delivers you from your enemies and lifts you up above those who are against you. You know that the Lord gives freedom to the prisoners.
You know enough to bring the sunshine back. In a way you create the Remix. You change the song of sadness and despair to one of hope, faith and promise. This track that I’m listening to has the same lyrics that Bill Withers originally did, but remixed. It’s pretty cool and dramatic. It’s the same song, same voice (Bill Withers), just with a different sound to the original lyrics.
So, when it comes to your loved one, you have to take charge. You’ve got to make the decision to trust in the Lord, and call things that be not as though they were. You have to make your own remix.
Think about it this way, even if you’re in the middle of a thunderstorm, where there “Ain’t No Sunshine,” we all know that even in the worst storms, the sun is still there, far higher than the clouds that are only temporary. You have to choose either to stand in the storm and sulk, or stand defiant and say to the storm, “The sunshine will return!”
Jesus spoke to the storm and it obeyed. Isn’t Jesus in you? The Believer? Didn’t Jesus say that the works that He did, you would do? Then you have the same ability to dispel the storms of life for you, and your loved ones.
I love this version of “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers, but instead of the dread (although still a great classic), the Remix of the song strengthens me to stand against the storm, trusting God to do what man cannot. If you trust in God, let it be the same with you. Until next time.