Obi-Wan Kenobi’s warning before entering the infamous cantina on Mos Eisely prepared me for the worst, and his iconic line of, “you will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy” was accurate from almost every point of view except one. While there was certainly more scum and villainy than you could shake a lightsaber at, the mood was owned by one of the liveliest bands in movie history with their unique style of light jazz. You can probably still hear the music in your head while reading these words… the odd juxtaposition of the deepest darkness that the galaxy had to offer was offset by a joyful noise that could not be denied regardless of the environment that they were in at the time.

We don’t get to determine how dark the valley of the shadow of death that we walk through in life will be, but we always have control of the soundtrack that we create for it. No matter how much “scum and villainy” that we find ourself surrounded by today, we still control the mood that we choose to take into these hostile environments. As a child of God, we can make a joyful noise in whatever circumstance we find ourselves in knowing that our Lord is here with us in the midst of them, inhabiting our praises and using this opportunity to break EVERY chain that binds those who are seeking to be set free.

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. Psalm 100:1-2, 4

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. Acts 16:25-26

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