Green.

As someone who has grown up hearing the words and ideas of the Bible, there’s one that seems to stick out more than the rest: Heaven.  Its on the tongue of every aching man or woman.  ”What?  My suffering will cease, my hurting gone?  No loss, no rejection, no prejudice?”  Sounds like the place to be- and it is.  However, we get so wrapped up in the grandeur of perfection, and being a part of it(which is something to marvel over, don’t get me wrong) to the point where we miss the point of living entirely.   I start to wish for something quick and terrible, a shortened life span, a quick way out to perfection(I’m not talking suicide, but even Paul wrestles with his feelings on this, see Phil. 1:21-26).  This kind of focus draws us away from even the core idea of our existence.  Not to say I know/understand the exact reason man was created, but one could argue that since man was created on earth, he was meant to dwell there.  So with that in mind, there’s a shift in focus.  A shift to the world around us, one where the victory is already won, and the Creator of the Universe has claimed us as his own.  The kingdom then, seems to already exist, and exist here.  God has chosen US to be ambassadors of this on earth- what honor and responsibility.  So instead of this far off place we wish we were, our far-sidedness decreases and we’re left looking at each other instead.  That’s where the story is left off, and that’s where our chapter is.  Donald miller, in a blog asks the question “Where is there more fearful darkness or illuminating beauty than in the depths of the person sitting next to you on a bus? Where is there more evil and more beauty than in the unexplored cosmos of a human being?”  Its time to get our heads out of the clouds and have conversations.  Learn real things even about the “friends” we’ve known for years but don’t know the first things about.  We believe God is worthy of our lives- and by Christ’s example, we see our coworkers, our friends, our families, strangers and yes, even those you can’t stand to be around are in fact worth your time and worth serving, worth loving. They’re worth learning more about because of the value that Christ puts on them- the same value he gifts to us.  

We’re quick to judge(I’M quick to judge) because we don’t consider the story of others.  Get to know them- the REAL man/woman, and you’ll find yourself growing in love and understanding rather than distancing through judgement and prejudice.  I’m terrible at this, but I hope I’m learning to apply these ideas to my life.  I see my friends learning too, and when they apply it to others, I’ve seen amazing things happen.  These ideas are changing my perspective.  

With a trembling hand I reach and speak your name

With a whisper so soft the word resounds

Your beautiful name 

But will this whisper be enough

If I hum it to myself

Through the window, tired eyes will come to pass

Still I hum it to myself, alone.

Is it enough to get by, enough to survive in here?

Bottle it all up, keep my mouth shut in here?

Cause its so hard to love and its so hard to trust how you would

God I’m so terrified of you leading me to that door

Yet here I am, I see that door

In whispering your name once more

I wasn’t ready for this

I didn’t come running, I wasn’t halfway

Hands stretched out wide, “Here I am, send me!”

But that wasn’t me, I was the coward

All I swore not to be

But is it enough to get by, enough to survive in here?

To bottle it up, keep my mouth shut in here?

Just as the sun covers all

And as the moon waits to shine in full

My eyes awake abundant in restless sleep

This morn

The dew, still collecting in droplets

Further reflecting all that’s come to pass

There was a day where our skin kissed the rain

And then found each other

Still I wait

Still I wait

In all living and passed

Of all good and glorious

There’s one I long for still

So in patience wait

Sweetly sing goodbye

With every welcomed breath

The softly aching heart will come to rest

For a full one every man inherited long ago

In swinging, swaying, it will never fall

And through the beaten smile of my heart

One desire burns still brightly with a spark

That though this love was turned away

Still patiently I wait

Still patiently I wait

We dreamed of our lives

and how different they’d be

Waking up by your side

And never walking away

Never feel the sting of pain

That day I chose to leave

Oh how our hearts would be safe and sound 

If our knees never had to fall   

But it all comes around to

The way you’ve loved me with my back turned

How could it be that simple?

How could it be that simple?

That this love is mine

Time again I’m chasing air

When I know well with every conscious breath

My lungs are full

But still I grow restless and tired

I’m chasing mirrors back again

“If love is a mere emotion, then our love for a spouse, children, even God, is dependent on how we feel about them at a given moment, but feelings are fickle and can be as up or down based on factors as simple and mundane as the amount of sleep we’ve had or whether or not we exercised today.  

No wonder people fall in and out of love so much. They are treating love as an emotion or feeling rather than what it really is, an action verb.  

God demonstrated his love for us by sending His Son to redeem us.  Thats no mere act of emotion, but an act that lives out love.  Ultimately, we love God and love others around us when we actively demonstrate it.”

What an amazing picture of Christ’s love for us.  Thanks Future of Forestry.

This chest is full of memories

Of gold and silver tears

I’ll give you more to own than

All of this

And I’ll give you more than years

For you were once a child of innocence

And I see you just the same

Your burdens couldn’t win or

Lose a thing

Oh, I’d tell you once again

But you’re always on the run

 

Slow your breath down

Just take it slow

Find your heart now, oh

You can trust and love again

Slow your breath down, just take it slow

Find your smile now, oh

You can trust and love again

 

If you leave I’ll still be close to you

When all your fears rain down

I’ll take you back a thousand times again

I’ll take you as my own

I would sing you songs of innocence

‘Til the light of morning comes

‘Til the rays of gold and honey cover you

In the sweetness of the dawn

But you’re always on the run

 

You’re not alone

You’re now a part of me

You feel the cure

I’ll feel the toil it brought you

Just read the Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis, and it presents the idea that hell can be escaped, and those in captivity are really the one’s holding the key to their own escape, should they choose to endure the transition.  Trouble is, most are so wrapped in their pride and apathy that they refuse to release themselves and become free.  Sort of tried to show a version of that in the two verses.   

Relied on what I know

I’ve seen all the things I can hold

I know how far I’ll run

Out till I’m old

Slowly closed my eyes and drift into night

Hang myself in a cage under limitless skies

The truth beyond the world within my reach

But I’m already here

So how can you chase me

When all I’ve done is pushed you away?

Chris, Sleep for Sleepers

The Workday Release

Amanda