Sara Groves
“Add to the Beauty”
INO Records
13 tracks @ 57:11

You and I can be beautiful.

That’s one of the themes from the newest release by one of my favorite artists, Sara Groves. But in order to be beautiful, we have to turn our face toward Him. “You have made me to shine,” Groves sings in the radio single, “You Are the Sun.” On the other hand, this can be easier said than done because in “Just Showed Up,” we hear that “there’s so many ways to hide, to deny what’s real.”

In her PR material, Sara notes that “God has invited us, as mere human beings, to add to the beauty of His plan and creation. Unbelievable. The Kingdom of God transcends politics and policy, nationality, gender and race. . . . It gives us the ability to be very different and still bear one another. It gives us the power to extend the same kind of grace that has been extended to us, and to love each other with a love that never fails. The very real kingdom of God calls out of us, its inhabitants, beautiful art, creative lives and redemptive works.”

Sara has a depth to her lyrics not found all that often in contemporary Christian music. For example, in the title track, we hear that “we come with burdens written on our souls. . .but redemption comes in small spaces. Grace is an invitation to be beautiful.” Whatever our role in this world is, we are invited to be beautiful, to contribute.

I must wholeheartedly disagree with one reviewer who, in writing for a national e-publication dismissed “It’s Going to Be Alright” as this record’s weakest track. Sara says, “When my kids get upset, I sing to them. I think adults need lullabies too.” One cannot underestimate the beauty of heartfelt compassion that is the result of an unwavering faith.

Most of the songs are piano driven. There is the occasional cello, like on “Why It Matters.” “How Can I Tell” not only features a cool Supertramp guitar solo but also old-school gospel backing vocals. The only thing missing on this record is a genre-stretching song such as “The Boxer” found on her last major release, “The Other Side of Something.” But that is a mere quibble.

Sara invites all to visit the web site of International Justice Mission (www.ijm.org) for examples of how people in the body of Christ are living out the Kingdom of God, as well as her own web site (www.saragroves.com) to read about how friends around the world are adding to the beauty.

In a final note, I was flipping through my December issue of ccm magazine. They named “Add to the Beauty” “Record of the Year.” Right on!

- Rob S.