It’s funny what tracks life takes us down despite what we want. Matthew West wanted to play baseball for the Chicago Cubs most of his life, but somehow he managed to get a scholarship that led him down a much more musical path instead. At one point he even broke down crying as he claimed that God was leading him down this path, though it’s not said if he was crying for joy or for something else. One thing became clear though, this was the path that he needed to walk down since he’s been doing great throughout his career so far with a little help here and there to keep him motivated. Say what you will about Christian contemporary music, and many people do, but it’s come a long way throughout the years and has managed to evolve into something that people have really responded to in a positive manner.
Here are five of the best Matthew West songs of his career:
5. Mended
Life isn’t fair and it isn’t kind. It breaks us or at least tries to on a daily basis, driving its many points and bludgeoning lessons home without fail as people are forced to undergo one process of pain and suffering after another. The only thing that ever seems to erase or at least ease the damage that life can do is the belief that there is a reason for it, that there is a possibility of making life better, of creating something from the ruin that is stronger and entirely worth the pain that we endure. Through hardship the making of a person is something that can become a miracle that is the product of belief and a shared passion for something that defies the world when necessary.
4. Strong Enough
It’s said that we’re never given more than we can handle in life, though some would obviously dispute this since there are times when it seems that life is bound to break us down simply because it can. Being strong isn’t always enough, as strength is not the only measure of a person, nor is it the only quality that makes us who we are. The grace to understand this and the knowledge that we’re not always as strong as we need to be is a big step in realizing what life is all about, and what it really takes to be confident, resilient, and yes, even strong enough to understand just what it takes to get through this crazy thing called life.
3. Grace Wins
A lot of people would claim that Christian music is in some way like the sermons that one might hear every Sunday, a little too preachy and perhaps even pushy when it comes to getting the message across. The trick here though is that you don’t have to listen, you have that choice to walk on or to actually listen to the message that’s being given. Is it wise? Maybe, maybe not. Having the intelligence to know when to listen and when to walk away is something that each person has to decide for themselves. The music that’s pushed forth by Matthews and those in this genre is entertainment that is attempting to send a message to the audience. You can enjoy the music without hearing the message, or you can take it to heart, it’s your choice.
2. Broken Things
Being broken doesn’t make a person bad, flawed, or even undeserving of a final reward that many want to believe in. At one point we all break once, or twice, or more than is our due. Being broken is not the measure by which a person is rewarded in life, but the manner in which they raise themselves up becomes the measure by which they’re known on this world and beyond. There’s nothing that can be broken that can’t be put back together in terms of the human spirit, but the desire to be whole once again is what is needed in order to become stronger and worthy of the regard that people seek.
1. Hello, My Name Is
Anything and everything you can say about Christian contemporary music has possibly been said already, so honestly it’s easier to say what you like about it since folks like Matthew have been pushing it for long enough to make it something that’s enjoyable and entirely capable of being integrated into any musical scene. You might have even listened to music like this and not even known it in the past, as it’s been known to be played now and again on the radio and featured on some of the most popular stations. It’s not an all-inclusive genre obviously, but it’s been widely accepted by many as something that’s worth listening to.
The idea that music can be enjoyable no matter what genre it comes from is nothing new after all.
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