"Hotel California"

Last weekend I was working behind my favorite bar, having some wonderful conversations.  One conversation in particular has stuck in my mind.  There were about four of us sitting around enjoying some classic rock n' roll, when the Eagles' hit "Hotel California" came through the speakers.

Everyone sang along at first, but then question was posed, asking what the meaning of the song was all about.

One guy gave a speech about how songs have no meaning, they are all open interpretation for the listener.  That was obviously a good cover up for not having an intelligent guess, but whatever.

An older gentlemen said he was almost positive it was written about an insane asylum.  He referenced the lyrics, "we are all prisoners here of our own device," and "they just can't kill the beast."

I had never really thought about it.  I knew all the lyrics but just assumed the message made sense to everyone else but me...seeing as that is how it usually is.  I figured it was literally about a strange haunted hotel of some sort.  Although the insane asylum guess made good sense to me.

Much to all of our surprise, the song was actually written about the overly greedy culture of America and the dark side of the American Dream.  Don Henley said it was "our interpretation of the high life in Los Angeles," and later explained how that related to all of America and the greed in the music industry in the 1970's.

The whole song is beautiful in how it really engages all five of the listener's senses.  You can smell the "warm smell of colitas" and feel the "cool wind" in your hair.  I think this is part of what makes this such a successful song.  It is a beautiful creation and it laid the framework for the rest of their album.  The album went on to be #37 on the Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of all times.

The song talks about bringing your alibis, having mirrors on the ceiling and being a lovely place--all descriptions of materialism, greed and conceit in our culture.  I mean, it's no secret Americans are known for having too much and never being satisfied.

"And she said, 'We're all just prisoners here, of our own device.'
And in the master's chambers,
They gathered for the feast
They stab it with their steely knives,
But they just can't kill the beast."

I think these are the most powerful lyrics in the song.  It shows the deep emptiness and longing that comes from craving earthly treasures.  One of the residents literally describes herself and company as prisoners of their own keeping.  There is a church saying that goes with this, "Sin will take you further than you wanted to go, and keep you longer than you wanted to stay."

Greed is one thing Jesus came to set us free from.  No matter how much you gain, you will never be able to "kill the beast."  That's what makes money, fame, and success addicting.  It is empty.

The Bible and The Eagles both teach us to invest in eternity rather than the earthly.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal."
--Matthew 6:19-21

Investing in the eternal is a hard concept for me to wrap my head around.  I believe in saving, tithing, and living debt-free.  All of these things require hard work and good, biblical financial skills.  At the same time, we need to be extremely open to giving away everything we have received.  I was recently challenged to come up with ideas of how to do this.  Here are a few:

• Tip BIG when you go out to eat.  This means above and beyond 20%, which is today's standard.
• Donate your money to a worthy cause such as a missions group, non-profit organization or charity.
• Always, always, always tithe first and foremost--AT LEAST 10%.  If you take time to feed from a church, give money back.  These people have families too.  Also it is giving back to God...after all he did provide you the money in the first place.
• Do not give out of abundance, give regardless because that's how God gave it to you.

I like how Jeremiah 6:13 puts it, "For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely."  

Instead of coveting, grasping and asking for more, try killing the beast with contentment.  I struggle with this daily but the Lord has shown me the way to kill many things is through thankfulness.  If you are thankful and grateful then you will realize you are content.

It is Thanksgiving, ya know.

Action-->"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  

Promise--> "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

Keep the lyrics of Hotel California in mind as you walk through your day today. If not you may be searching for a "hotel" that doesn't really exist.