One of the most interesting reads of the past week was an article at FiveThirtyEight from Leah Libresco about the language of contemporary Christian music as compared to the language of shape note hymns.  She did a survey and came up with this chart:

The survey inspired other short articles like this reflection on great CCM music from the 90s and this reflection on the idea of “winter Christians” and “songs of exile.”  I think it’s a good and necessary conversation to have, especially when you think about the worship habits and rituals of younger Christians (or what we think they expect, even).

What’s interesting to me (and what shows my disconnect from CCM in general) is that I have found myself gravitating and revisiting artists who are Christian and who deal with the sadder, sober side of life.  Case in point: the music of Andrew Peterson.  Here’s a recording of a recent performance of the first track (“The Dark Before the Dawn”) from his latest album (The Burning Edge of Dawn).  It’s music like this that helps ground me in both the sorrow and joy of a fallible life in a fallen world.  It might not always employ particular words and concepts all the time, but it’s something, even to call it “the pain before the balm.”