Today's Scripture Reading (September 19, 2025): Psalm 85
On July 18, 2025, the
progressive rock band "Styx" released their eighteenth studio album, "Circling
from Above." "Circling from Above" was the first time that Will
Evankovich and Terry Gowan, the brother of "Styx" keyboardist
Lawrence Gowan, were featured as full-time members of the band. The reaction of
the critics seems to be generally positive about the new Album. They praise the
Album's "rich musicality" as well as its "thematic depth."
"Circling from Above" seems to both take another step on the journey
the band has been on for decades, while remaining true to the band's roots.
I've been a big Styx fan
since the early 1970s, and I had July 18, 2025, circled on my calendar.
However, I was on vacation in July and the days often seemed to blend in with
each other; as a result, I didn't listen to the Album until July 19. (I had heard
the lead single from the Album, "Build and Destroy," when it was
released in June.) I hope the band will forgive me for my tardiness.
I love the Album, but the one
track that caught me a little off guard was "Forgive." Let me
explain. There has been a lot of conversation in the Styxverse about the
possibility of the band going back to its original lineup. Now, a complete
return to the original lineup would be impossible. Styx's original drummer,
John Panozo, passed away from gastrointestinal hemorrhaging and cirrhosis in
1996. Chuck Panozo, the original bass player, continues to play with the band
from time to time, but health issues curtail his full involvement. But the real
intent of going back to the original band points to the acceptance of keyboard
player and vocalist Dennis DeYoung back into the fold. For his part, DeYoung
says that he is ready to return, but the band isn't quite as sure. James (JY)
Young has argued in the past, when asked about DeYoung's return to Styx, that "the
band is crazy, but it's not stupid. Neither JY nor Tommy Shaw seems ready to
invite their former bandmate back.
Maybe I need to make my bias
clear here. I loved Dennis DeYoung when he was in the band. However, I am also
a massive fan of his replacement, Lawrence Gowan, and was a fan of Gowan, as he
is affectionately known in Canada, even before he became part of Styx. I have also
said publicly that even though I like DeYoung, I think Gowan was an upgrade. As
a result, I'm unsure whether I am cheering a reunion with DeYoung, especially
if it means Gowan is out.
Enter the song "Forgive."
The song's subject is described in the Title. I like the way that the lyrics
treat Forgiveness as a very complex subject. The lyrics to the chorus say;
Did the sun ever shine so bright as you and I?
Oh, why did we toss the fight?
I'll keep saying I forgive you,
Please forgive me too, 'til the day that it's
true.
I have no idea what Gowan and Will
Evankovich were thinking when they penned the tune, but I can't help but wonder
if maybe there was a subconscious desire for their bandmates to forgive
DeYoung, if they feel they haven't. I love the concept of forgiving someone
until "the day that it's true." Of course, Styx can forgive DeYoung
and still not want to reunite.
I keep hearing people say, "I
can't forgive this person." And I get it, but maybe we need to take this
page from Styx and say, "I am going to actively forgive you until the day
that it is true."
We don't forgive just because it is
the kind thing to do. We forgive because that is what God modeled for us. He
forgave everything we had done to break our relationship with him, which, for
most of us, is a lot. And as a result, we forgive the wrongs that are done
against us. Is it a challenging task? Yes, which is why it is so vital to keep
forgiving them until the day that it's true.
Tomorrow's Scripture Reading:
Psalm 87 & 88
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