Everyday Encounter...
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"I Do."
No caveat. No grudge. Not feeling like I have to, but because I want to and more than that, that I have the privilege to... I GET to... And I am free to! That is the feeling that I had when I got married. I didn't feel like I had to say I do, but I really wanted to. And I knew the potential and privilege of it. I wonder if that's the same thing when we are asked to say "I do" at things like church services, when we sign up to things in life? Do we see the opportunity and potential excitement, or are we just saying it because we have to? Because when we say it we open ourselves up to a whole lot more... What more could we get ourselves into?
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Ever asked that question? As a parent it is one of my regulars. As someone who prays it is one of my regulars. I wanna know you’re listening
If I’m talking to myself I’m gonna find somebody else Tell me, can you hear me? I need you to hear me Screaming out so loud But my words don’t make a sound Tell me, can you hear me? Is anybody listening? I’m done talking to myself I’m gonna find somebody else. Part 2... I was reading Nadia Bolz-Weber's article in response to the Asbury Revival, and what she said resonated with me: "Rather than make big stroke proclamations about what the Asbury Revival is or is not, I’m trying to just pay attention to what longing inside of me is being drawn up in buckets each time I tune in. I long to sing with others; I long to be open-hearted; I long to trust something for once; I long to be un-self-conscious in my devotion to God; I long to witness something real." As I said about "Any Love", I found love. I met God and I cannot shake that.
But there's no doubt in me that it's different now. I'm not going to throw it away, but equally I can't deny the change. Lament and request. Clash said: "Lift Me Up" is an "emotive" R&B ballad that "speaks from the heart". To me it sounds and awful lot like a worshipful heart-cry of prayer.
"Are you going to fall? Is someone supposed to catch you? Or do you catch yourself? There will be something worth falling for." I've had to learn it before, and I'll have to learn it again:
Here's a simple reminder. It's OK... ... To be not OK... ... To make mistakes... ... To crack under pressure... ... To ask for help... "It stopped raining in my head today..." That would be nice...
I often feel like there's an almighty downpour inside my head, as I try and work out the mess of thoughts that spiral around! Some of those thoughts are trying to unpack faith and theology... The bass from this one echoed around the church as we prayed. The subwoofer had to be on. Isaiah 2:2 says: "In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it." Or in other words: "If you look into the distance, there's a house upon the hill
Guiding like a lighthouse It's a place where you'll be safe to feel our grace 'Cause we've all made mistakes" I rarely get too political, but luckily Muse do it for me!
I don’t want to make too many observations about this one, other than to say I think it works better as a “call and response” song, where one part is sung by those who are abusing their charge of a place, regime, party, or organisation, and the other is sung by the general population or organisational member who are subject to the whim of those in leadership. |
Every-Day EncounterIf you'd rather listen and come to your own conclusions about the eclectic mix of songs I worked through in Lent 2023, here's the Spotify Playlist! Archives
September 2023
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