Solveig Leithaug – Showing Up (Time And Again)

Music has the powerful ability to be therapeutic. To bridge. To heal. To lift. To change an atmosphere. To restore. I go in and out of many different denominations, networks, and “worlds,” and work with people from all kinds of backgrounds. I get to be around people who have no faith background, and many who do. My mom taught me respect for others who are not the same as me. Music is a leveler. Jesus is a leveler. Our human desire for connection is the same, and music bridges all of it. As I see it, Jesus does too.

CCM: All of my hurries / All of my worries / I just keep running out of time. The new record’s title track is enchanting. Give me the background on the lyric, and talk about the thing we are all a bit fearful of … time.
SL: I first started to write this song thinking about how my youngest son, sixteen now, will soon be grown, and how fast time goes by. I brought the draft to a writing session with Reba Rambo-McGuire. As we were digging into the subject the song found its form. I guess few things touch closer to the heart than questions like: How am I treating my nearest loved ones? Am I rushing so hard, working so much, that I miss out on the moment within reach—to connect with a loved one?

CCM: As someone who has so much international experience, in a culture that is so divided and rife with tension, is there a solution? Is there a way to diminish our differences so we can connect on a heart level?
SL: That’s a great question. We are living in a world of increased tension. My husband Jim and I have a wide circle of friends who represent a lot of opposing political viewpoints. I often read articles on the same news story, seen from a European perspective alongside the American media. I’ve challenged myself to pause and listen.

I made a phone call recently to a friend whose views made me mad and genuinely sad. I thought, Is there a way to actually discuss this? We decided to give it a try. I told her my guns weren’t loaded, [and] I would like to try to understand why she takes the stands she takes. In return, she asked me the same. It was hard, but after an hour or so we had found renewed common ground. Our friendship deserved it. It was an hour well spent.

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