I just remembered something from college. I went to Bob Jones University. Maybe you went there, too, or you went another Christian school. Or maybe you have no idea what I'm talking about. But I thought I'd share it anyway. I still laugh when I think about it.

Fundamentalist institutions like BJU are known for their rules. Some of the rules they are known for don't actually exist. Some of them, like the infamous pink and blue sidewalks, we wish had existed. Strange as it may seem, life would have been much easier if the sidewalks had been pink and blue so we could have better navigated and got in less trouble.

One of the major categories of rules at these institutions is music. The ultimate can of worms. You see, its not just the institution, but every individual. I had professors who grew up with Southern Gospel and could still appreciate it. I had others that would have fainted if such music were even suggested. I had professor who grew up on Country Western and still had fond memories of Gene Autry. But, again, it wasn't just the professors. You had to worry about the students. One student listened to whatever he wanted to and hated every minute at the school. Another student might go through the school's own music and skip half the tracks for her own standards' sake. One might personally dislike the music, but would let you listen to what you want. Another thought all music was the instrument of Satan and couldn't wait to turn you in if caught humming. So you never knew who you were around.

Enter "lyrical conversations." Yes.

Obviously there are some songs that are so ingrained into the American psyche that all are born with inherent knowledge of the lyrics. Those songs you avoid. But there are other songs that are less well known, except to their fans. These songs are useful for lyrical conversations.

So here's how friends can safely be made at a fundamentalist institution. If you suspect someone might make a good friend/ally, you introduce lyrics into your conversation. One of my friends told me he was out working with another guy one day. They had been making small talk, when the other got philosophical. He said, "You, know, Ryan, I really think that life is a dance that you learn as you go. Sometimes you lead, but sometimes you follow." Ryan nodded and responded, "Yeah, I think you're right. Just don't worry about what you don't know." Soon, they were best buds.

I personally was sitting in the back of math class one morning. I suppose the discussion of mathematics turned caused the young man beside me to ponder the subject of science in general, because he brought up a famous scientist, "Galileo, Galileo, Galileo," he said. I suppose the rhythm prompted him toward opera, because he followed the name with "Figaro."

I wanted to explain that I didn't understand, so I apologetically responded, "I'm just a poor boy, from a poor family."

He dismissed the conversation, waving his hand, "Let him go."

I nodded. But I still felt guilty for not understanding. Acknowledging the just punishment for my crime of ignorance, I admitted, "Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me."

"For me?" he asked.

"For me," I corrected. Sometimes, on days like today, I wonder what could have become of such friendships had I only understood what he meant.

Well, I best get back to work. It's not quitting time, yet. But, then again, I'm sure it is five o'clock somewhere.