VOTE–Which Song Has the Higher Love?

I’m proud to say that having grown up in Texas, not only do I gladly sport a slight Texan drawl (which I only noticed when an out-of-state college buddy pointed it out to me), but I also have a genuine appreciation for the goodness and beauty of country music (which, curiously enough, was not shared by the same college buddy who made me aware of my Texan accent). Sure, I’ve heard from a couple of you Yanks about how you consider listening to country music to be a form of cruel and unusual punishment, but for those of us who’ve grown to drink deeply of the goodness and nobility of small-town America, we’ll not soon be separated from our love for the strang’ and twang’.

Country music just seems to have a simple way of meeting you wherever you’re at in life, and of making you think about things. As a small little six-year-old with a crew cut, it wasn’t unusual for me to strut around the house in my size 4 cowboy boots, a dollar-store plastic revolver hanging from my side, topped by a dilapidated old cowboy hat, as “Should’ve been a Cowboy” by Toby Keith played in the living room…over…and over…and over again (thanks for your patience, Mom!). At the time, listening to a song filled with references to the Texas Rangers, horseback riding, and camping beneath the stars fed my childish desire for adventure, and opened my heart to the goodness and grandeur that life had to offer.

17 years later, country music has again caught my attention. Driving northbound towards Dallas the other day on I-35 (still with a crew cut, but no longer sporting the dollar-store revolver), I was struck by how much two love songs can differ between themselves, even if they both sport the title of “country music.” I invite you to decide for yourself, but to me, these two songs seem to endorse two very different attitudes towards love: “This Everyday Love” (by Rascal Flatts) and “I’m Proud of the House We Built” (by Brooks & Dunn).

After listening to them for yourself, I invite you to cast your vote, but not before seeking answers to just a few of the following questions:

Which song do I like best, and why? Which song inspires me the most? Why? What inspires me about this song?

Of the two songs, does one song represent a higher form of love? If so, why do I think that? If not, then why are the two loves equal?

Which love do I hope to pursue in my own relationships: that exhibited by “This Everyday Love,” or “I’m Proud of the House we Built?” A mixture of both? Neither one?

Obviously, I have my own opinion here, but I’d love to see what you think about the matter, which would help me to clarify my own thinking. So, let’s put it to a vote: which song best exhibits the higher love?

Cast your votes in the comments section, and may the best song win!