Proverbs 15:15

"All the days of the afflicted are evil,
But he who is of a merry heart has
a continual feast." (Proverbs 15:15 NKJV)

I recently picked up a copy of Rolling Stone magazine that was lying on one of the tables in the cafeteria at my workplace. What caught my eye was that the issue had a featured article on renowned rock/jazz/world beat drummer Ginger Baker. Several years ago I bought a copy of a jazz album he recorded along with guitarist Bill Frisell and bassist Charlie Haden and found it to be an enjoyable listen. Being a musician, I've always had an interest in what makes musicians tick, how they got started and what inspires their creativity. Further, it's always a hope that a musician whose art I enjoy will come to know the Lord Jesus Christ if he hasn't yet. To read such a testimony would bring me joy that would far surpass any that I may have experienced listening to their recordings over the years. Sadly, this is apparently not the case with the 69-year old Baker who suffers from a number of ailments and must take morphine several times a day for pain.

In the very first line of the article, the drummer is quoted as uttering a cranky expletive at the South African sunrise, something the author says is a morning ritual. Further, Baker is later quoted as saying, (I'm paraphrasing here because I don't have the magazine) "God is punishing me for all the wicked things I've done by keeping me alive and in as much pain as possible." How sad. That's the reason Ginger Baker believes he is still alive. He is alive because the God who created him loves him and desires that he not perish. He is alive because the Father is being patient and merciful, giving him time to come to repentance and to be saved from the coming wrath by accepting His offer of salvation. Sadly, the article paints the picture of a man who is suffering from the excessive lifestyle of his younger years, though apparently he still manages to play the drums quite well once he gets settled in behind the kit and also plays a mean game of polo.

What I gather from reading the article is not that Ginger Baker has a merry heart, but that he sees himself as being the victim both of his own bad choices and mistreatment at the hands of others. What he fails to see and what, at one time, we've all failed to see is apart from having a relationship with our Creator we have nothing. Though Baker is in the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame, though he's recorded with some of the most innovative musicians in rock, jazz and African music and has sold millions of recordings, these things don't bring him joy. Past drug abuse, failed marriages, friends who have died from overdoses and problems with tax evasion have made him bitter and angry. I believe if Ginger Baker came to know Yeshua Ha' Mashiach and had His Spirit living inside of him, he would have peace and joy. All of his hit records and trophies would be counted as loss and worthless. What he would have though, is the joy of experiencing the royal spread the Lord has laid out for his children, even in the presence of their enemies (Psalm 23).

This is not "Pick On Ginger Baker Day", rather it's a moment where I'm seeing the life of a man whom God Almighty loves and sent His only Son to die for that he may not perish, but have everlasting life. My prayer is that before he breathes his last on this earth, that he will see that God is not punishing him for his sins, rather that Jesus took his punishment so he could be spared eternal death and damnation and experience no more sorrow, no more pain. That he may experience peace and joy everlasting. That is my prayer this evening for all of the Ginger Bakers out there.