Christian musician looks at bright side

But Carolyn Arends' new CD struggles to look at life's dark side

photo-credit Christian singer Carolyn Arends, an admitted Pollyanna, in her new CD, brings out themes she was afraid to deal with previously.

By BILL GLEN
WCR Staff Writer
Surrey, B.C.

In spite of herself, Carolyn Arends is transparently hopeful.

Her most recent CD release - Pollyanna's Attic - is a collection of songs the Surrey, B.C., artist had tucked away in her mind, hesitant to record because they were darker than others on her previous eight recordings.

They deal with issues that restrict us in our relationship with God, each other and ourselves.

But last January she was determined to dust the songs off and bring them into the studio. The result is a clean 12-song work laden with easy-to-access messages.

"The whole project is intentionally honest - not that my other recordings were dishonest," said Arends, 38.

"I really tried pushing myself to be candid about tougher things. My natural temperament is that I'm a glass-half-full kind of person. I wanted to give myself permission to dig in."

On the first track Just Pretending, she sardonically states, "Everybody's just terrific all the time."

With Something to Give, she asks the listeners to look within themselves to find the qualities God has given because they are meant to pass along.

Something to do

"Every human being needs to realize that there is something for them to do. There is probably another way God could get things done but he prefers to include us," she said. "If you have time on your hands, you have time to give by getting involved in a number of things."

Arends has received numerous awards for her music, including two Juno nominations. She was recognized as the 2002 West Coast Music Awards' Songwriter of the Year for her CD Travelers.

She has written two critically acclaimed books - Living the Questions and We've Been Waiting for You - about moments of reflection and her experiences as a mother of two children.

"The books reveal opportunities in my life to experience spiritual reflection. There were moments to experience God in some way, particularly expanding my vision of him."

Arends is currently travelling across Canada with her Something 2 Give tour. The two-hour show of mainly acoustic pop music will be in Edmonton Nov. 4 for a performance at the Evangel Pentecostal Assembly, 4461-50 St.

The tour works in conjunction with Compassion Canada, to help children in El Salvador. The focus is advocating for underprivileged children by encouraging sponsorship.

Following a recent visit to the Central American country, Arends felt compelled to help.

"The last few years, my husband and I have become aware of just how fortunate we are in the West. It is mind boggling how much we have to give our neighbours all over the world. That perspective has led to more of a desire to try and bring about social justice," she said.

Light in the attic

Arends believes hope can always be found in the "cracks and fissures." It's just a matter of turning on the light in the attic.

"I believe a relationship with God gives you hope. Sometimes we take our blessings and turn them into curses. We become dependent on things that prop up our lives, like our professions or income. We forget how desperately we need God," she said.

"It has to be stripped away to feel a little bit broken. Then we find more genuine hope and foundation for our lives."

Tickets to her Nov. 4 concert are available by calling 780-468-4714 or 1-866-953-1833.

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