I am one of the last people on the planet who I ever thought would succumb to watching a TV show on a regular basis.  For one, I don't like TV.  I don't like commercials. But the biggest reason is because I just have far better things to do with my time than to sit blankly at a television screen. I was surprised one day last year when I said to myself - It's Tuesday, American Idol is on.

Tonight I realized what it was about that show that made me want to watch it.  First of all, I realized the joy of DVR or TiVo. We can record a tv show, then watch it later without commercials. woo hoo! I don't have to schedule my life around a tv show, but can schedule a tv show around my life. Which means, that if I have a few minutes to fit it in - I can. Or I can wait a week until the next few moments.

I spent a couple of hours at the library - no wait - it was Barnes and Noble, but I read a book while there. It was a book about the life of Sandra Lee. I read the whole book and truth be told, I felt a little guilty that the only money I spent was for a latte. When I arrived home I was feeling a bit guilty that I missed watching American Idol with the kids, but it was so great to sit and read a book.

Christi was sitting on the couch, watching the recorded shows. She watched all 5 hours and it only took about 2 hours to do it. Anyway - I sat down and began watching with her.  It was surprising that we had so many opinions that were the same! It's pretty neat when your 20 year old daughter has a lot of the same opinions and ideas that you have.

I enjoyed being on the couch with her far more than I actually enjoyed watching the show. When it was over she said, "Thanks for watching that with me, it was a blast!"  I felt the same way...privileged that she watched the show with me. 

I bounced up the stairs to get some more work done when I realized I was singing one of the songs that was on the show. It wasn't even a song I particularly liked, but I was singing! For those of you who are natural singers I'm sure you won't understand this - but for me to be singing is HUGE! There is this part of me that often wants to break out in song, but I always seem to stop short. As I thought about it, I became aware that in the past few weeks I had been singing a whole lot more.

Do you think it could be because American Idol started again?

I think not!  I think it's because a few weeks ago, God gave me a vision for something that has been a passion in my heart for as long as I can remember....and now ....it seems like all of the pieces are falling into place. When passion wells up and starts spilling out - You can't help but sing!

James 5:!3 "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.  Is anyone cheerful?  Let him sing psalms."