“The Architect” (2024), Kacey Musgraves
Kacey Musgraves hails from Golden, a small town in West Texas. She burst on the country charts in 2013 with her first album, Same Trailer Different Park, which produced several hit singles and won a Grammy. Deeper Well is her sixth album. In the title, she confesses that she has found a “deeper well in sobriety” and taking care of herself; “So I’m getting’ rid of the habits that I feel are real good at wastin’ my time,” she sings.
“The Architect” is a thoughtful reflection on questions for the Creator. The singer muses on the simplicity and complexity of the universe and then wonders if the Creator was surprised by his work, or if he has any regrets. She wonders about the evil that exists in this world, and then she focuses on herself: “I thought that I was too broken and maybe too hard to love. I was in a weird place, then I saw the right face, and the stars and the planets lined up.” Sometimes shifting attention from the fallenness of the world to the beauty of creation gives us a healthy perspective and brings clarity that the way forward is to trust the Architect who designed a good and beautiful world, even though our world is fallen and broken.
In short, the songwriter seems to be looking for meaning in life and a more intimate relationship with God, whom she calls “the architect.” The simple, understated music allows the lyrics to take the focus. The questions are good ones and the focus on questioning of the Architect of the universe is the right place to look. God seems to welcome and accept our questions; he repays our wrestling with him with his presence. The faithfulness of God to his promises and to his people is a comfort and encouragement to those who seek him. Many times, our questions, even when unanswered, become a means to appreciate the character of the Architect.
Questions:
- The songwriter asks the kinds of questions humans have asked for millennia: Is there a God who is active in this world? Is there meaning and purpose? Is there hope in the midst of fallenness and brokenness? Do these questions resonate with yours?
- Does the song sound like it’s written from a position of faith, or from the point of view of a skeptic? Why do you think so?
- The songwriter describes seeing “the right face and the stars and the planets lined up.” Was this a human face? God’s face? A metaphor for something else?
- What do you think about referring to God as “the Architect”?
- If you had the chance to answer the singer’s questions, what would you say to her? How would you direct her to find the answers to her longing? Can you identify with her?
For more devotionals in this series, click here.
About the Contributors
Glenn R. Kreider
Prior to teaching at DTS, Dr. Kreider served as Director of Christian Education and then as pastor in Cedar Hill, TX. His research and writing interests include theological method, theology and popular culture, and our eschatological hope. Dr. Kreider believes that grace really is amazing; it is a thought that will change the world. He is married to his best friend, Janice, and they have two grown children and one granddaughter. He and Janice enjoy live music, good stories, bold coffee, and spending time together and with their three dogs—two rescues, Chloe (a terrier/greyhound mix) and Carlile (a black lab), and one gifted, Faithful (a Bernedoodle therapy dog).
Contributors
