Today so happens to be the birthday of the legendary Stevie Wonder. Not only legendary because of 25 Grammy Awards and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, among numerous other accolades; but a legendary smile that seems to always light up an entire stage and stadium and even beyond. Part of his amazing story is the very beginning: born several weeks premature, leading to medical treatment complications resulting in blindness for the rest of his life. And yet, seemingly in spite of all of that, still a smile that could reel in an audience of millions.
One of his lesser-known works is “Have a Talk with God,” including the portion:
There are people who have let the problems of today
Lead them to conclude that for them life is not the way
But every problem has an answer, and if yours you cannot find
You should talk it over to [God]
[God will] give you peace of mind…Many of us feel we walk alone without a friend
Never communicating with the One who lives within
Forgetting all about the One who never, ever lets you down
And you can talk to [God] anytime, [God is] always around.When you feel your life’s too hard
Just go have a talk with God…
Granted, we recognize that prayer may not be so easy for some, especially if you’re expecting a Divinely booming voice to respond to whatever requests are made at that moment. Sometimes you need other siblings of God to help you navigate such spiritual conversations. Sometimes the church can obviously (hopefully) help with such matters as well. Sometimes music can be the needed assistance to open the heart and mind to dig deeper into the depths of the soul; and along the way, “communicate with the One who lives within.”
I have a feeling Stevie Wonder has done his fair share of helping individuals who had more than their fair share of “the problems of today.” But from our own “talks with God,” may such prayerful moments provide us the needed inspiration to engage in the needed talks with our fellow siblings in Christ as well: for further growth and wonder and adoration of the One who continues to live with us through it all. And even if a little Stevie Wonder helps us do that too, then amen (so let it be)!
In Christ,
Pastor Brad
In honor of Stevie Wonder’s birthday, from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s 25th Anniversary Concert: