Jonesin’ with Mr. Jones - Watercooler Wednesdays
April 9th, 2008
Here’s another post that’s part of the Watercooler Wednesdays discussions about arts and culture with Randy Elrod.
This past week, I was thinking a little about the lyrics of “Mr. Jones,” a song that was pretty popular back when I was in high school. I think one reason it resonated with so many people is because it talks about our desires in a way that we can relate to.
Here are a few of the lines:
…
We all want something beautiful
I wish I was beautiful
…
Help me believe in anything
I want to be someone who believes
…
When everybody loves you, you can never be lonely
…
The truth is that there are a lot of things that we could be tempted to think might help make us happy but we often find that they can’t do that after all. I think Adam Duritz might be hinting at this with his line, “When everybody loves you, you can never be lonely.” By making such a direct statement, he helps us to really think about it and it’s clear that popularity isn’t a cure at all for loneliness.
In my own experience, when I’m in close relationship with God, I find that I’m both better able to enjoy other things in life and at the same time also feel less dependent on those other things (or other people) in order to be happy. Surprisingly (or not), another thing that can contribute to our own happiness is living a life that is centered around serving others. You could almost think that focusing on self could give you a better chance of making yourself happy. However, experience shows us that focusing on self is more likely to lead to depression than anything else!
What are the things that you are looking for in life? Is it possible that you’re leaning too heavily on the hope of them bringing you happiness? Do you have any tips for finding true happiness?
I love this album! And what a great song. Every 5 months or so it finds its way back into my main playlist. The whole album is unbelievable. Without being trite (I hope) my happiness comes from my complete faith and focus on God and love and service to my family and those I meet.
Awesome post! It is only when we give our lives away that we gain them. I have found this to be true over and over, it is just so hard to remember!
Great post!
What a great song, and a solid album, too.
I found it at a used cd store a few months back, and it burned up my playlist for awhile.
I especially like these lines from “Round Here”
And she walks along the edge of where the ocean meets the land
Just like she’s walking on a wire in the circus
I like the imagery it conveys, and also the sad reality that life in the song’s city is like walking on a wire between hoped-for stability, and the wide, whirling ocean.
I believe that Christ is the only thing truly stable in my life; the only thing that keeps me walking the wire between sin and death, and a life of stability and righteousness.
Again, thanks for sharing!
” However, experience shows us that focusing on self is more likely to lead to depression than anything else!”
My comment to that is that for someone that isn’t sick with depression (diagnosed with it) that may be true. But for someone that has had surprising trauma happen in his/her life, time to grieve and figure out things can throw a person into clinical depression without the person’s say so.
Hey Jonathan,
Thanks for posting this. Hmmm…everything around me is making me think…
I used to play this CD over and over in high school and I still really like it. I agree with Scott, ‘Round Here is a great song as is… well, nevermind, I could go on for a while about this CD I like it so much!
Anyway, I’ve realized lately that anxiety and worry (i.e. thinking too much) robs my happiness. That’s kind of obvious but I suppose it can also be described as not being “in the moment” or not taking the time to stop and smell those proverbial roses. So many times I drive to the store for example, and I can’t remember the drive so caught up am I in thinking about what might happen in a few hours. And not only is that downright dangerous, it’s kind of miserable too.
I’m trying, in little ways, to keep myself more focused on what’s going on around me rather than on what hasn’t happened yet. It might be as simple as “Oh, listen to the rain on the windshield” or “Look at that tree with all of the birds in it.” Whatever. It’s sort of working so far–I do forget sometimes. Thinking too much is pretty entrenched in me.
Anyway, I hope that didn’t sound too New Age-y… haha.