Relient K has come a long way from its Sadie Hawkins Dance days. Maybe it’s my personal bias toward Matthew Thiessen’s angelic voice, but his seventh CD – released in October – is one of the best yet.

I bought the CD the day after it was released, and I began listening to it as soon as I started my truck. As I was driving down the road back to my apartment, I heard the chorus of the first song say, “I’d rather forget and not slow down than gather regret for the things I can’t change now.”

The lyrics are actually the name of the CD, Forget and Not Slow Down, and they certainly capture the theme of the record.

The song expressed everything I had been feeling all summer and soon became my favorite song on the album.

Everyone has regrets in life, but dwelling on them instead of moving forward is ridiculous and unproductive. I made it my goal to forgive myself for all the things I wanted to change. I stopped wishing for a time machine and made it my goal to live life without regrets. Instead, I turned them into lessons learned. And all because of a song.

Music is a huge part of our lives. At any given moment around campus, at least one person is walking to class with headphones connected to an iPod in her ears. Runners on the trail are constantly listening to music, and parties and concerts devoted to music occur every weekend.

Whether we like it or not, the songs we listen to affect us. I’m not saying all of this to persuade people to change their music preferences but to encourage awareness of the deeper meanings in the songs they listen to. Lessons are just waiting to be learned in almost any song.

Being a Relient K fan since seventh grade has helped me cope with trials in life and learn a lot of things. The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek was the first CD I ever bought, and I’ve purchased all their albums since. I know the band has gone through several members and crossed over from the Christian record label into the more mainstream, but I think they are still creating powerful songs full of clever lyrics and thought-provoking messages with clear Christian undertones.

Over the years, I’ve expanded my music choices. I was even too cool for the band at one time. But, I always came back to Relient K, and that is one thing I don’t regret.