I've been a huge fan of Bebo Norman for the past decade as he has written and sung some of my favorite songs including "The Hammer Holds," "A Page Is Turned", "Tip Of My Heart", "Great Light Of The World", "Nothing Without You" and "I Will Lift My Eyes." 

 

He took it up a notch with his self-titled album, which included the standout songs "Britney", "Pull Me Out" and the Dove Award winning song "The Only Hope." He's a truth telling folk music style singer-songwriter like Rich Mullins, Derek Webb and Todd Agnew.

 

On the heels of his 2010 Dove Award, Bebo Norman finished his seventh studio project with award-winning producer Jason Ingram. Bebo Norman released his album, Ocean, on BEC Recordings, marking his second studio release with the label. 

 

For Ocean, Bebo once again teamed up with Ingram in the studio for production as well as co-writing. On the last four records, Bebo and Ingram have established a mutual respect working together creatively to create a sonic landscape listeners love. After repeated listens, I rated Ocean as the best overall album by Bebo Norman and my top overall album of 2010.

 

I had the great opportunity to speak with Bebo in-person before his concert in Lancaster, Penn. about his personal song written to his wife, "Could You Ever Look At Me," which is one that means a lot to me as I celebrate my 18th wedding anniversary with my wife, Jennifer.

 

 

Ironically enough, when I was finalizing the mixes for the album Ocean, my wife and I had planned two years earlier for a trip to Hawaii. We would sit on the beach every morning for several hours looking at the sunrise over the ocean. Since our time zones were messed up we'd wake up really early. I'd be contemplating the songs for this album, in particular this song. The beauty of songwriting is that sometimes songs don't affect you in the deepest way until you are past them for a little while. I wrote this song and I felt every minute of it when I wrote it, but as I was sitting there in Hawaii approving mixes all I could do was realize that I was learning new things from these songs as I listened to them while I was looking at the ocean with my wife. My wife grew up on the Eastern shore and the ocean has long been a haven for her. 

 

She's lived in a bit of a chaotic world, and has endured a lot of turmoil. The ocean was the place that calmed her and settled her. At the beginning of the song, I am asking her selfishly if she could ever look at me the way she looks at the ocean. I want her to find that settling place looking at her husband instead of the ocean. The ocean ended up very quickly becoming a metaphor for God.

 

Ephesians 5:25-27: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish."

 

...and John 3:30: "He must increase, but I must decrease."

 

 

As the song progresses, it is my own realization that unfolded as I wrote the song. At first it wasn't a completed thought, and then the rest of the song came first from a place of sadness. Could I ever be that source of peace, and comfort and rest for my wife? Certainly I can be bits and pieces of those things for her, which we should as husbands. As I finished writing the song, the light bulb came on that the ocean is not what she's looking at. The ocean is a metaphor for God. Lord forbid that I ever attempt to become God for her and try to step into that role. Number one, I am not equipped or capable. More importantly, I am not meant to. She's not supposed to find her peace or her hope in her life from me. I am a temporal being and there will be a day whether I leave this earth too soon, or am not emotionally available for her, I will fail her.

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There is a gift in being lost and mesmerized and finding peace in looking at the ocean, a.k.a. looking at God, because He is not a temporal being. The song is an unfolding for me of those frustrations I have when I am not enough for my wife. God processed in me and reminded me in the most subtle and gentle way, that she's right to look for her peace in Him and not in me. I went into the song thinking I was right, and that she was doing something wrong, and it turns out there was really beauty in the gentle reprimand I received from God in writing this song. When I surrender to my wife, I'm loving God more deeply. When I sacrifice for my children, I'm loving God more deeply. It starts by praying for a heart that can serve. God works with the desires of our hearts.

 

 

Bebo Norman's album Ocean is loaded with songs that move and bless me as a listener, including this song and the worshipful songs "God Of My Everything" and "I Hope You See Jesus," which was co-written with Laura Story ("Blessings" and "Indescribable").

 

What's so amazing about this album is that I connect to every song personally. What I've come to realize is that Bebo's story is also my story and anyone struggling with the balance of life and faith can truly relate to the incredible messages of these songs. They only grow deeper with each listen which is my favorite type of album.

 

I get choked up when I listen to "Could You Ever Look at Me," which is a compelling love song. In the song Bebo admits his weakness "I don't know how to chase away the fear I have inside me," before it catches a tidal wave of holy truth: "I hope you never look at me the way you're looking at the ocean / Because in the sunrise I have seen I was never meant to be the light of your world." I lose it when Bebo sings those incredible words.

 

Thank you so much, Bebo, for writing and singing some of the deepest and most meaningful songs I've ever heard. The key to a biblical marriage is to keep Jesus at the center and know that He is the light of the world. God is the only true source of hope, and rest and security. We can never completely be those things for our spouses. My wife Jennifer recently wrote me in a greeting card that she loves me more than one of her favorite hobbies. It cut to my heart and it meant the world to me. I credit the biblical messages "behind the songs" in Christian music for leading me to Christ and at times, it may seem that I love music more than anything. The Lord commands to us to have no other gods before Him. I love Jesus and I love my wife as Christ loves His Church. 

 

Happy Anniversary, Jennifer. It is my heart's desire to more selflessly show you my love and devotion and serve you in a Christ-like manner. As this song says, "I have seen I was never meant to be the light of your world." Jesus is the light of the world and what God has brought together, let no man separate. Amen.

 

(You can listen to this gorgeous song here.)