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| AGW Welcome | The Witness Magazine |
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Life Lessons From “Ray”By Kirk Jones
Ray , a movie that brings to the big screen the big life of Ray Charles, has drawn rave reviews. The impact goes beyond Jamie Foxx's stunning performance, and even Charles' life itself. The movie presents life lessons that can be used to greatly enhance one's own living. [H]e had the good fortune of being challenged by Della Beatrice Robinson, his beloved “B,” to “sound like Ray Charles.” It is only then that Charles began to let out a blues-drenched, church-rinsed voice that had been building in him all along. But, he had to choose to let it out, as we all must risk being the person we really are in order to make our greatest contribution to society. There's the lesson of finding your own voice. Ray Charles enjoys limited success earlier on because he sounds like singers Charles Brown and the legendary Nat King Cole. Charles might well have earned a sizable income by continuing to imitate these great performers. But, he had the good fortune of being challenged by Della Beatrice Robinson, his beloved “B,” to “sound like Ray Charles.” It is only then that Charles began to let out a blues-drenched, church-rinsed voice that had been building in him all along. But, he had to choose to let it out, as we all must risk being the person we really are in order to make our greatest contribution to society. Another lesson presented in Ray is the importance of being not just true to yourself, but also being open to who you are becoming. Charles alarmed his record producer when at the height of his success as a soul/ rhythm & blues artist, he opted to do a country & western album. Charles argued that it was because of the soulful stories at the root of country & western music that he had to do the album. And besides, that music had been a part of his past and was calling out for expression in the person he had become. In my book, The Jazz of Preaching: How to Preach With Great Freedom and Joy , I mention a jazz artist named Ellington who had a similar yearning for musical expansion and evolution. When asked to identify his favorite among his 2000-plus compositions, Ellington replied, “My next one.” We cannot grow in life by holding on to familiar ways. Progress, not to mention excitement, comes in stretching forth, in launching out into more challenging and risky territory. On a more personal note, I appreciated Ray affirming for me that religion does not have a monopoly on spirituality. I began preaching at the age of 12 in a Baptist church in New Orleans, La., where Charles lived briefly. While I was growing up in the church and pulpit, there was a time when I believed that God's Spirit was concentrated in these “holy places.” No doubt, this belief fueled the fire of resistance from outraged congregants when Ray Charles began mixing church melodies with blues longings. They felt their music was being contaminated. Well, no one owns truly spiritual music. Preachers and other “saints” need to remember author Madeline L'Engle's words: “There is nothing so secular that it cannot be sacred.” Finally, Ray offers a poignant lesson about facing our fears. The first person to do this in the movie is Charles' titan of a mother, Aretha. She is the one who, after losing her youngest, George, stares squarely into Ray's unseeing eyes and challenges him to live an adventurous life in spite of his blindness. Ray Charles does just that, but along the way finds himself haunted by a feeling of guilt regarding George's death. In one of the movie's most dramatic scenes, Ray Charles's blindness is lifted momentarily, and he sees his dead mother and brother offering him sweet grace and courage. In his heart, he sees the loving truth that sets him free from fear. Stare your trouble in the face until it softens, and shows you something that will set you free to live your best life. Ray Charles did, and the world is better for it.
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