Grand Ole Faith
When you step off a plane in Nashville, Tennessee, music envelops the airport. I’ve always had a fascination with the music world and used to dabble in it, playing guitar and writing Christian songs when Christian contemporary wasn’t the rage.
However, I gave it up in my twenties when I left my guitar at an old boyfriend’s house, never to see the boyfriend, or the guitar again. Sounds like great subject material for a country tune!
Nashville draws me. There’s a soulful feeling about the city and you are constantly reminded of its musical roots. It has a proud tradition that blankets every restaurant and Honky Tonk.
So on Saturday night, I checked off an item on my bucket list. I attended the Grand Ole Opry. Not expecting a religious experience, I went to the show believing I would hear some of country music’s all time greats.
And I did.
Six-time Grammy Award winner, Ronnie Milsap was the headliner, along with another Country Music Hall of Famer, John Conlee, who was making plans to leave for Baton Rouge the next day to help flood victims. Because I was more of a rocker in my day, I didn’t know the names of all the performers, yet I could tell they were beloved by the fans at the Opry House.
What I also witnessed on stage was a family of faith. Many of the performers took the opportunity to shine Jesus’ light to the audience. Twice, they asked for prayer for an ailing member of the Grand Ole Opry.
Then when the group, “The White’s” took the stage, lead singer, Sharon White, shared her amazing vocals, but was also vocal about her faith, using this platform to glorify Jesus. White happens to be married to another country star, also a strong believer, Ricky Skaggs.
Meanwhile, gifted performer, Bradley Walker, who is wheelchair bound because of Muscular Dystrophy, sang Why Me Lord? He was an inspiration, and not afraid to shine for Jesus.
Never expecting a worship service, I felt the presence of the Lord at the Grand Ole Opry and when it was over, I was already talking about a return visit.
We don’t have to be a country music star to make a difference. God gives all of us a platform, large and small, to glorify him. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s handwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” The question is will we step onto the platform or will we stand behind it, because we’re embarrassed or fear rejection?
I walked away from Nashville inspired, and because of the experience, wrote my own country song about my evening at the Grand Ole Opry.
“I Saw Jesus at the Grand Ole Opry”
My grandma had a love for country music.
She made me watch Hee Haw; I knew those western tunes.
So when this Texas girl flew to Nashville for a visit,
The Grand Ole Opry house was on my list of “had to do’s.”
But I didn’t think the Opry was a church site.
Just a place to hear those memorable country songs.
It was entertainment after preaching; put my feet up after teaching,
But then I saw God’s presence in the bright spotlight.
CHORUS
I saw Jesus on the stage at the Grand Ole Opry.
Not just Honky Tonk and whiskey songs were played.
His light shone brightly at the Opry House; I felt goose bumps form inside my blouse,
I went to church in a country sort of way.
So I sat there in amazement at the witness.
The Lord’s servants not afraid to answer His gentle call.
The banjo picking, guitar humming, melodious piano, keep it coming,
This rock and roll girl is a country fan after all.
So I blew out of the Opry as a feather.
Feeling like I met Jesus face-to-face.
The Lord gives us talent and a mouthpiece for his purpose,
And that’s what the singers did in that Grand Ole place.
CHORUS
I saw Jesus on the stage at the Grand Ole Opry.
Not just Honky-Tonk and whiskey songs were played.
His light shone brightly at the Opry House; I felt goose bumps form inside my blouse,
I went to church in a country sort of way.
© Lisa Burkhardt Worley