In the year 2000, a New York City groove-based band led by Ilhan Ersahin would offer her opportunity. She would gain experience on the road as special guest accompanying the Charlie Hunter Quartet in 2001. Her voice would continue with the infamous and well-experienced Dirty Dozen Brass Band. She would find notable recognition in her first EP release (2001) entitled simply “Norah Jones.”

This recording would flourish unexpectedly. The album is now out of print and is considered by some to be a collector’s item. All this would seem as peanuts to her 2002 debut record “Come Away With Me.” This would be an album that would blend elements of various music genres without the restricting boundaries of standardized genre as such.

Come Away With Me “blends elements of jazz, soul, country, and folk-pop in a warm, unselfconscious amalgam, and erases musical boundaries in the process.” Norah Jones discloses her talent and worldview as she performs “on vocals, piano and Wurlitzer electric piano,” neatly and gently fusing characteristics of jazz, soul, country, and folk-pop.” [1] This album typifies the increased assimilation of fragmented cultures. Pause…oh the thought…”Global Village” as revealed in its many forms pops into my head.

One particular characteristic of the present postmodern conform is that of multicultural amalgamation. The popularity of the web, an extension of an extension of the total human, has only fueled this present cultural disposition. My keeping up with Norah Jones via Internet is minute yet mirrored example. With commentary on the more human aspect of this global village cultural state of mind, I think upon Norah Jones and her talent in fusing diverse music styles. Such music is appealing to me. I like the idea of assimilation within the arts. Take all the great ideas and put them together. Mix it all up; see what you get.

While Norah Jones is making headlines for her multicultural adaptations, many Christians remain standoffish concerning people like Norah Jones. Some see assimilation as threatening. There seems to be one particular fear in the context of the dreaded and prevailing multiculturalism. Fear lies in compromise and/or what the late Francis A. Schaeffer termed as accommodation. The conjoining of cultures and the mingling of truth with lies. Is that not what many Christians fear?

Can truth be so radically capable of standing on its own? I would think it to be so. I would question the validity of that truth if it could not stand-alone. Multiculturalism is prevalent and unavoidable. The years to come will only reveal a more increased “Global Village.” There will always be Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhist’s and…yada…yada…yada…ad nausea.  There will only be one church composed of believers from beginning to end. These believers, those who’s lives are lived out in The Way, will always be different from the groups previously mentioned. There will always be something about those Christians who recognize that truth stands on its own, and that true defense of truth comes in simply living it out first.

Imagine this…Christians who are fashioned by a belief not their own, who recognize the value in other peoples stories, who live fervently in light of the story that shapes their own person for the glory that is not their own, who live simply, ascending the peak through a life of service.

The Dreaded Perspective of Want

Here’s a catch. I heard it again this week from the lips of dear friend. “I just want to change the world!” said my friend, as he spoke with all the enthusiasm and fervor he could muster. Keeping my thoughts, I simply asked the question to myself, “Why can’t we stop trying to change the world and start changing our lives?” It is not that we ought to become “more spiritual.” It is that we ought to become more real with a deeper sense of this belief not our own that shapes our being.  So it is here that I reinforce the words of Anna Beaumont from the January issue Next-Wave, “We don’t have a ‘spiritual life’, the spiritual IS our life."

Far too many people take on this perspective of want—“I want to change the world.” As noble as it may sound, many believe albeit fallaciously, that this is some kind of greater spirituality. Everybody wants to leave some kind of legacy behind, but too many people are trying so hard to change the world, that the only legacy they will leave is a life that was lived chasing diverse and fluctuating ideas that never really take flight—Ideas that are falsely held in light of a pseudo-spiritual ideological dream. The thought of this brings to memory the “I want to buy the world a coke!” movement of the 1980’s or even the “I’d like to teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony!” delusion.

All the while, I am learning from people like Norah Jones. We can learn to live simple and creative lives just as Norah Jones sings simple and creative songs. These are the ones who end up at the top in the end. These are the ones who have the greatest impact on the most people. I do not know about Norah Jones’ beliefs. I don’t care about Norah Jones’ beliefs. That is her business. I do believe that we can learn something here. There is a greater truth amidst this whole subject that transcends Norah and all the world’s Jones’.  And still there is another side that must not be overlooked.

Coming at It from Another Direction

In the same breath, it seems shocking at first to come across news such as that of Bernard Loiseau, 52 years old and the chef-owner of La Cote d'Or restaurant in Burgundy. La Cote d’Or restaurant is one of the only 16 Michelin three-star restaurants in France.

The pressures taken on to get to the top and stay there have now brought resolve. Loiseau died of a gunshot wound last week, apparently self-inflicted. He was found dead in his Saulieu residence, in his bedroom, lying next to his hunting rifle.

There is a price to pay for fame and it is a price that many cannot afford. Their fame, something that once may have seemed desirable, with time becomes a burden where no peace is found—no relief from the pressures that daily grow heavier.

And let us not forget those who never sought after fame, but somehow fame found them and now they are subject to the pressures as well. These persons are to be pitied even more than those who sought out fame in the first place. The latter get what they wanted along with the consequences, while the former got more than they ever wanted, and yes, consequences included.

Personal Reflection

This is disturbing to me—one who often harbors a yearning for recognition. I am often torn between a desire to be heard and a desire to not be heard, despite how absurd this may sound. At times I wish that others could see what it is that I see intellectually, and I long to communicate these thoughts in the form of writing.

With this in mind, there arises a self-induced confidence that proclaims, “ These are deep thoughts.” And so the upshot mentality is one that sees every person benefiting from such deep thoughts.   The other side of me fears the publication and communication of such thoughts for either of two reasons.

One is the fear that these thoughts are not so deep as I had resolved. Two is that these thoughts are as deep, if not deeper than I had resolved. The former would result in personal humiliation. The latter leads into one of two consequences, one that is feared and one that is hoped.

The expectation that is feared is that such deep thoughts lead to the further degradation and decline of Western society, and especially the Christian part that is played in Western society of today. The outcome that would be hoped is that many would see the hand of God in the story of this world, recognizing the significance of Christ, his person, his life, his impact, his story in global perspective. It is this outcome, God in all his glory and splendor revealed, which I hope for.

So the question that is now raised is, “Could I handle the top if ever I had the chance to make it?” By myself, the answer is no. Within the context of God’s glory in global perspective (His glory and fame spread throughout the entire global village) I would never really make it to the top-top, no matter how high I am exalted.

I guess perspective is everything. It still disturbs me to hear such news about Bernard Loiseau.

I am especially reminded of my job as a Night Butler for a small luxury hotel in Ft. Worth during the summer months of 2001. It was not just the responsibilities of a newborn baby nor was it the financial responsibilities of graduate school that caused me to pursue and acquire a night job. After all, I would not accept just any night job. It had to be the right night job.

Hmm…Night Butler…I liked the sound of that. There was only 30 something rooms in this small building. It was a posh little place. There was a well-known chef from Ireland named Dairmud. He was a spectacular chef, a delicacy specialist par excellence.

If I were to “make it to the top” by whatever means, I suppose this would be the context I would hope for. There is room for appreciation, room for rest, and room for peace in such a cozy, simple context and yet there is opportunity to shine. The gift[s] you have, or even the talent[s] for that matter, is/are certain to thrive and grow under proper care and attention in such a context as this. It is not grand in scale…or is it? It seems to me that this would be the place to be.  And I really miss being a Night Butler.

And so there is room to learn. From Norah Jones, simplicity and humility that leads to the top. From Bernard Loiseau, there is a price to pay at the top. Recognition and responsibility are costly. He, whom much is given, much is required. From myself, that I am never truly content with my context. I seem to always want to change the world. I am always concerned with the grand scale of things. All the while, opportunities come and go.

It is no wonder, that Jesus would say such things as “The first will be last and the last will be first,” and “The greatest among you will be his servant.”  Stop trying to rock the world into some kind of greater spirituality. Stop trying to make it to the top. Start by simply living-by-living simply. And live faithfully, a devotional life that glows with little effort focused on the act of shining. Be salt. Be light. Enjoy the wonderful and multicultural temperament of this day and age. Things will never be the same as they were before. Don’t worry. Truth will not be compromised nor will there be accommodation so long as you are faithful with the little things. It is then that you will find you are given many things in the long run. Seek first the kingdom, the rest will come in due time.