Nine Inch Nails on the way to church

I was several miles from home when I realized I didn’t have any CD’s in my car and the playlists on all the local stations were bland. Fumbling about in my glove compartment for some music, I pulled out a defective tire gauge, a moldy map of Tennessee roads, a wad of drive-thru napkins, and a flashlight of which I had little confidence in its illuminability.  Finally I found a few cassette tapes from years gone by.

It was a solar soaked early April Sunday, and I had decided to drive around to west Nashville’s expansive Percy Warner Park for some natural perspective before church. I was pleased that the first tape case I lifted out of the trough was a collection of Brahms classics by Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic.  As I was about to slip it into my rarely used dashboard cassette player, I realized it wasn’t the symphony I had expected, but rather a Memorex tape that had accidentally been placed in the Brahms case.  The handwritten title was so faded I couldn’t read it.  Curious, I decided to pop it in anyway to see what surprise would greet my ears.

I am the voice inside your head

And I control you

I am the lover in your bed

And I control you

I am the sex that you provide

And I control you

I am the hate you try to hide

And I control you

This was hardly the soothing string swells of Germanic romance era melodiousness that I thought would augment my peaceful devotion before communal worship.  Within about half a minute I realized it was a dub of The Downward Spiral, the epic 1994 exploration into depravity that comes from unfettered depression (or is it the other way around?) by Nine Inch Nails.

I take you where you want to go

I give you all you need to know

I drag you down I use you up

Mr. Self-destruct

(“Mr. Self Destruct” from The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails, 1994)

In many ways, it is one of the saddest exposes on mankind’s proclivity toward the dark side ever recorded.  It seemed incongruous with the sun-streamed spring foliage and dewy meadows I was passing between.

Help me, I broke apart my insides,

Help me, I’ve got no soul to sell

Help me, the only thing that works for me,
Help me get away from myself

(“Closer” from The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails, 1994)

The stark, brutally honest lyrics were matched with distorted, oft-chaotic music arrangements beneath the tortured wailing confessions of bandleader, Trent Reznor.

I'm stuck in this dream it's changing me

I am becoming the me that you know

He had some second thoughts

He's covered with scabs and he is broken and sore

The me that you know doesn't come around much

That part of me isn't here anymore 
It won't give up, it wants me dead
Goddamn this noise inside my head

(“The Becoming” from The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails, 1994)

After a few minutes, I ejected the tape, thinking it was not the proper accompaniment for my Sunday morning pastoral.  I drove in silence for a bit, but what I had heard reminded me of how often I don’t want to deal with the debauchery that lurks within, and would rather mask it with sunny platitudes and distractions.

Oh my beautiful liar

Oh my precious whore

My disease, my infection

I am so impure

(“Reptile” from The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails, 1994)

As I passed by a dead collie on the curb lying stiff in a pool of hardened blood, I was slapped back into reality from my happy Sabbath bliss.  I decided to slide the tape back in and turn it up even louder.

I'm losing ground

You know how this world can beat you down

I'm made of clay

I fear I'm the only one who thinks this way

I'm always falling down the same hill

I was weaving through the winding passes of that large, hilly park and was reminded of how I so often try to navigate in and around the darkness within me.  Twisting to evade contact with the brokenness is one of my favorite exercises. It has almost become routine from muscle memory and repetition.

You extend your hand to those who suffer

To those who know what it really feels like

To those who've had a taste

Like that means something

And oh so sick I am

And maybe I don't have a choice

And maybe that is all I have

And maybe this is a cry for help

I do not want this

I do not want this

I do not want this

I do not want this

(“I Do Not Want This” from The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails, 1994)

As I pulled into the parking lot of my church listening to the words of the closing song, “Hurt,” it dawned on me that this was the perfect soundtrack to prepare myself for this Easter Sunday:

What have I become?

My sweetest friend

Everyone I know

Goes away in the end

You could have it all

My empire of dirt

I will let you down

I will make you hurt

I wear this crown of shit

Upon my liar's chair

Full of broken thoughts

I cannot repair

Beneath the stains of time

The feelings disappear

You are someone else

I am still right here

(“Hurt” from The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails, 1994)

In more ways than one, those nine inch nails were meant for me.  Instead continually driving them in to myself, Someone else took the brunt of their sharp pain in my stead.

“Jesus did not refuse the society of the guilty.  He came to save the lost; and no person ever came to him so sure of finding a friend as those who came conscious that they were deeply depraved and mourning on account of their crimes.”  --Albert Barnes

“There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.”  --Corrie TenBoom

“The most powerful sermon in the world consists of two words: Me too.” --Anne Lamott

"If you like Anne Lamott, CS Lewis, and Donald Miller, you will enjoy Embracing the Gray," and more Five Star reviews from Amazon

Here are some more of the Five Star reviews being posted on Amazon.com for Embracing the Gray: A Wing, A Prayer, and A Doubter's Resolve. I am humbled that these top ratings continue to come in at a 97% rate (with the other 3% being Four Stars).

Well worth the journey. As a human who struggles with "what I'd like to see happen" vs. "what often actually happens" in the world, this book is both deeply moving and strangely comforting. Apparently Mark and I have very similar musical tastes and he appreciates thoughtful lyrics. Some great references. Near the end of Embracing the Gray, all I could think was, "Oh my God!" and not in a casual 'OMG' sense. -A.B.

Embracing the Gray is written from an honest and vulnerable perspective. Each reader can find something that speaks to them within the pages. Hollingsworth says things that most people think about but would never say. This book is definitely worth the read. -D.C.

I highly recommend Mark Hollingsworth's memoir. He is a beautiful storyteller with remarkable stories to share. Mark candidly relays a believer’s doubt and struggles weaving in stories of his international travel working among the poorest of the poor and working in the music biz. If you enjoy the likes of Anne Lamott, CS Lewis, Donald Miller, etc. you will enjoy Embracing the Gray. -L.L.

An inspiring journey! This is a book I am glad I made the time to read (one sitting, of course--couldn't put it down)! An autobiographical account of a faith journey that is inspiring, humbling, moving, amusing, encouraging, and uplifting. The sharing in this book is courageous without seeming reckless, vulnerable without the tinge of fear, open and confident without being arrogant. It left me feeling honored to be welcomed into the sharing. It is rare and refreshing to have someone share their faith and their journey in such an open-hearted, open-minded way. Without the drawing of too many conclusions that can close up an idea, the readers are left with still more mystery to explore on their own journey. I was inspired by Mark, but instead of feeling encouraged to 'be like him,' I feel encouraged to be more like me. -L.M.

I couldn’t put it down! Not only has Hollingsworth walked the walk in his lifelong service, he can also talk the talk! He's a fantastic writer. His book is a precious collection of his life experiences, told in a creative, sensitive, thought-provoking, and often humorous way. I think most of us can identify with him as he reflects back and realizes how past experiences can take on new meaning. I think Hollingsworth has only scratched the surface of his depth and talents. -D.M.

As a reminder, Embracing the Gray is still available for a limited time as a 99 cent Kindle download at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Embracing-Gray-Doubters-Resolve-ebook/dp/B004L62CN2/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

You can also get a free PDF download of the entire book for a limited time at my website:

http://www.markahollingsworth.com/node/12

And, you can learn more about the book via this video trailer on Youtube (please feel free to share this link with your friends):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=yYV16kzNFYI

Thanks!