Sometimes you find a song that, as soon as it starts playing, awakens something inside of you. 
It's a little bit strange, and extremely unexplainable. 
You can be feeling something something mildly, and then when you turn on the song, you feel that same thing but times one million stronger. Or it can change your mood almost completely around. 
The funny thing is, that same song will make another person feel absolutely nothing, while you're on the ride of your life!
And for me, the key component to a song is the soul that you can feel coming from the artist(s).  Even if the song is simple, I can always tell when an artist really means and feels something deeper than their lyrics. Or if they are using an instrument to paint their soul for you (a voice is an instrument too).
This song is what's on more than a few times a day this week. Turned up very loud. Some people dislike or even hate Owl City, because his lyrics are weird, his voice sounds auto-tuned, he's only popular with twelve-year old girls, blah blah blah, etc., etc. But I don't care, I've loved Adam Young for years and will continue to do so without shame. Not only do I admire his outward showing of his Christian beliefs, but something about his music speaks to me and I. love. it.
Today, listening to this song, I feel empowered, wanted, needed, and influential. It also makes me want to go run my heart out, but I already did that today and I don't think my knees would thank me if I did it again.

Think of the music you listen to, doesn't matter what it is, but do you love it? Like, really love it? If the answer is no, then why are you listening to it?

there are times when you need to do what you need to do. doing what has to be done so that you no longer feel like a big bird in a too small cage. longing to sing but not knowing where to find the source of such internal music.

words cannot describe the fantastic feeling of first, uncomfortably finding a way to push out of the cage, and then finally breaking free. becoming instead a very small bird with the whole world at it's wingtips.

some may look at the cage and scoff saying "sometimes awful things must be endured" and i will agree and say "yes. only if these awful things will conclude in sweet nourishment for the bird".

"Trust thyself- every heart vibrates to that iron string."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

small and simple things

"I think we delight to praise that what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is it's apppointed consummation." -C.S. Lewis

it's fantastic really- the miracles that happen in our lives every day.

some of these small things may not even be considered miracles in the eyes of critics.

like when an elderly man walking, smiles, waves, and gives you an enthusiastic "hi".

or when your shampoo that's been practically empty for two weeks is still able to somehow produce enough substance to wash your hair every day.

when your pet fish brings you priceless joy.

when you decorate your drab apartment to feel a little more like home.

and then there are the times when larger miracles happen.

and leave you with no doubt that God lives.

like when you're at the lowest of lows, and you just want to stay in bed all day.

but suddenly you find yourself up and walking, running, living.

and you don't know where the motivation or energy came from.

there's no doubt that you were just carried by divine arms.

silly billy is a little melancholy. but he's the joy of our apartment. what a cute old man.

we were pretty proud of our fake flower arrangement.

LOTR

I'm a nerd for many things.

But Lord of the Rings takes the cake.

Granted, I didn't dress up for the premiere's– and I'm not planning on naming any of my children after characters.

But it's the symbolism throughout the story that just gets me. Sort of like the Chronicles of Narnia (actually just like them).

I'm not going to take the time to explain everything. Just watch/read the saga for yourself.

Here's a little Samwise to get you choked up.