Most folks know of my fondness for John Eldredge’s The Sacred Romance.  It may be the single most influential book in my life (beyond the Bible) – what, for the ways it “connected” my heart with the Gospel… and helped me to embrace my love of media/movies as “means of Grace.”

In his workbook on the same, at the end of each unit, Eldredge suggests/recommends various songs, movies, books, even places as “windows” that he’s found useful in his “journey”… and which he believes might be helpful in our lives and walks along the path of the Sacred Romance.  Very early on, I found myself engaging many of these songs, downloading them, and creating a “Sacred Romance” playlist for my iphone.

Over time, the list has grown as other songs dear to my heart have been added – some (in the spirit of Eldredge’s original selections) overtly Christian though a good many “secular” in origin but with a very decided spiritual meaning.  (The list, in fact, has gotten long enough that I now divide it into “sections” reflective of “chapters” in my/our story as Christians: Creation [Eden], Crisis [Our “Fall”], Consolation [in/through Christ], Consummation [“Happily Ever After”].)

Altogether, it serves as a “soundtrack” for my life – something I return to regularly to remember the Story I am in (where I have been, where I am, where I am going).

I offer you, then, the “Soundtrack of My Journey in the Sacred Romance.”  (I’ve included sources for the songs I possess but acknowledge that, in some cases, there are many versions and that “it’s different strokes for different folks.”  In a few cases, I have even included links to youtube so that you might engage one or two of these.)  I offer it in the hopes that maybe you’ll find a song or two worth downloading for your own playlist, your own “soundtrack.”  I offer it in the hopes that maybe you have a song to commend to me and my “playlist.”  As much as anything, I hope it invites you to ponder the Sacred Romance we’re all in, the power of art, and the songs (and movies and places) that best define the “chapters” of your life.

Songs of Creation

• End Title (You are Karen) (from Out of Africa soundtrack, track 12)
• Life is Beautiful (from Michelle Tume’s “Listen”)
• How Great Is Our God (Chris Tomlin)
• Concerning Hobbits (from The Fellowship Of The Ring Soundtrack)

Songs of Crisis

• I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For (U2)
• Barber, Adagio for Strings
• On My Own (from Les Miserables Soundtrack)
• Along The Road (Susan Ashton, Margaret Becker, & Christine Dente)
• Theme From Schindler’s List (Soundtrack)
• The Beast In Me (from, Nick Lowe’s Untouched Takeaway)
• Mad World (from Donnie Darko Soundtrack]
• Hallelujah (from Jeff Buckley’s Grace)
• The Motions (from Matthew West’s Something to Say)
• None of Us Are Free (from Solomon Burke’s Don’t Give Up On Me)

Songs of Consolation (and Coming to Christ)

• Healer of My Soul (John Michael Talbot)
• These are the Days (10,000 Maniacs)
• Show the Way (David Wilcox)
• Slipping Through My Fist (David Wilcox)
• Your Hands (JJ Heller)
• Seize the Day (Carolyn Arends)
• The Ludlows (from Legends of the Fall Soundtrack)
• On the Tip of My Heart (Bebo Norman)
• At Last (Etta James)
• Gotta Serve Somebody (from Bob Dylan’s Slow Train Coming)
• Aslan (Kendall Payne)
• Only Love Remains (J.J Heller)
• Beautiful Place (from Wayne Watson’s Signatures)
• Captivate Us (from Watermark’s The Purest Place)
• The Battle (from original score: Lion, Witch and Wardrobe)
• One of Us (from Joan Osborne’s Relish)
• You Are Everything (from Matthew West’s Something to Say)
• God Blessed the Broken Road (from Rascal Flatts)
• When I Think About the Lord (from Shane & Shane’s Carry Away)
• Dare You To Move (from Switchfoot’s The Beautiful Letdown)
• Everything (from Tim Hughes’ Holding Nothing Back)
• Only Grace (from Matthew West)
• I’ll Take Care of You (from Steven Curtis Chapman’s All About Love)

Songs of Consummation (and Our Destiny in Christ)

• All Through the Night (from Shawn Colvin’s Holiday Songs and Lullabies)
• On the Bright Side of the Road (Van Morrison)
• The Buffalo Hunt (from Dances with Wolves Soundtrack)
• May It Be (by Enya, from The Fellowship Of The Ring Soundtrack)
• I Can Only Imagine (by Mercy Me)
• Top Of The World (from Trevor Jones, The Last Of The Mohicans Soundtrack)
• What Do I Know (from Sara Groves’ Conversations)
• The Grey Havens (from The Return Of The King Soundtrack)
• Into The West (Annie Lennox, from The Return Of The King Soundtrack)