I bet if I were to ask you which musical artists or bands have had the biggest influence on who you are today, you could rattle off a couple of names in two seconds flat. Music is like that; it seeps into our soul without us even noticing, and then changes our entire view of the world.

For me, one of those key formative groups was Caedmon’s Call. I know many of you probably haven’t ever heard of them, and I’m sure they’re not to everyone’s taste. But for me, the music of Caedmon’s Call, particularly their early work, matched the resonate frequency of my soul at the time. And their lyrics…wow. Being a writer, lyrics matter to me, and Caedmon’s Call was lyrically challenging. Who wouldn’t be challenged by lines like these?

When my heart draws close to the close of autumn
Your love, your love abounds
All the time I’m thinking
Wondering how would it be
To breathe in deep
I guess I need to be careful
When I ask for a drink
(Just might get what I ask for)
And I know just what you’d say to me
That’s why I don’t ask you
~ From “Close of Autumn”

One thing I’ve always been curious about, and only recently learned, was how Caedmon’s Call got their name. Turns out Caedmon was a real guy—a monk who lived in the 5th Century, whose story was recorded by the Venereble Bede. Caedmon, it seems, was musically ungifted. He had no ability to sing or play music. Unfortunately for him, it was customary in that day at drinking gatherings or feasts to sing for each other in a celebratory act. In an attempt to avoid the embarrassment of being forced to sing when he could not, Caedmon would always sneak away from such parties when the singing began, and hide in the stable where the animals were kept. One particular time, an angel appeared to him in his sleep and beckoned him to sing. Caedmon replied that he was unable to and asked what he was to sing. The angel told him to sing about the creation. At that moment, Caedmon recognized the presence of God’s Spirit and immediately started singing songs of praise and glory about the creation and the creator, words that he had never heard or had ever sung. When Caedmon awoke, he remembered all the songs he sang in the dream, and wrote them down. And he sang them at the next feast. Everyone was blown away and stood in awe of the beauty in the music and lyrics.

Great story, right? But then, isn’t this everybody’s story?

Caedmon’s call was to do the very thing he believed was impossible for him to do. That seems to be the way of callings, particularly those we sense as Divine. They call us to stand, to act, to create, in the very arena where we feel the most weak and unqualified. It’s what the great spiritualists call the Way of Weakness, and I believe it’s central to the path of true fulfillment. I’m not saying (for an instant!) that you should never rely on your strengths or regularly lean into them. I’m just saying that for each of us there is at least one mountain we are called to climb that is far beyond our strength or talent or capacity to learn. To climb it will require an intimate alliance between you and the Spirit of God, because the ability to fulfill the call will not come from you but from him…and all that will be required of you is a profound humility and a willingness to go anywhere and do anything His Spirit leads you to do.

What is your “Caedmon’s Call”? Have you said yes to God yet, concerning His call? If not, what’s stopping you? (If you want support in helping you find your divine call, and the courage to follow it, check out the PathDiscovery program here on the site. Let’s unleash the song within you together!)

For those who are curious, here’s a more recent release from Caedmon’s Call. Enjoy…