So it is time. It is time to respond to the music ringing in my ears. It is time to enter through the open doors called COMMUNITY. It is time to hold a light up high and light the path for those whose vision is dimmed by division, who have lost their way, whose fears have darkened the path; it is time to drown out the sound of the lies pounding, so the knocking can be heard.
Care to join me?
Because your light shines a little differently than mine and I want to welcome that difference onto the porch.
Let's put jealousy aside, bury envy in the backyard, and throw pride out the back door.
I AM PREACHING TO MYSELF HERE!
The knocking gets more intense and the music get's louder.
It is a sad song about a city, a city on a hill, but you wouldn't know that now. The light that once shined bright on that city on a hill has gone out because
"THEY ALL STARTED TURNING ON EACH OTHER."
Lack of unity in vision causes division. Refusal to work together breaks down the refuge of community. When the lights stop illuminating the glory of God, a society emerges with individual defenses held high above the the light of the city and
"ONE BY ONE THEY RAN AWAY WITH THEIR MADE UP MIND TO LEAVE IT ALL BEHIND AND THEIR LIGHT BEGAN TO FADE IN THE CITY ON THE HILL."
What good is the city when the inhabitants run behind their individual walls of defense, when talents perform in private showings and no one cares to support each other, to show up, to provide encouragement?
What good is the city if differences are not combined to create a place where wholeness and belonging thrive?
"You see the poets thought the dancers were shallow and the soldiers thought the poets were weak and the elders saw the young ones as foolish and the rich man never heard the poor man speak."
There is someone close with a passion for kids, the homeless, the hurting, the fatherless, the hungry, the sick or the grieving . . . you need to touch his flame so that your flames of passion are kindled within.
Not too far away is one with wisdom in finances, in pain, despair, parenting, marriage, or faith . . . you need to lean in close and listen because someday someone will be leaning in close to listen to you. Will you have something to offer besides criticism, judgement and self-centered opinions?
Their stories of strength, courage, history, God's faithfulness, answered prayer, and loss. . . those are the stories that will get another through their weaknesses, doubts, failures, disappointments and disillusions. Are you listening?
Do you see beauty in the dance or the meaning behind the ink that grace the body created in the image of Christ? Do you hear the rawness of heart behind the lyrics, behind the language of the poets?
I hope you do. It is important that you can see it, hear it, feel it because . . .
"IT WAS THE RHYTHM OF THE DANCERS THAT GAVE THE POETS LIFE. IT WAS THE SPIRIT OF THE POETS THAT GAVE THE SOLDIERS STRENGTH TO FIGHT. IT WAS THE FIRE OF THE YOUNG ONES, IT WAS THE WISDOM OF THE OLD. IT WAS THE STORY OF THE POOR MAN THAT NEEDED TO BE TOLD . . . "
"ONE BY ONE, WILL WE RUN AWAY? WITH OUR MADE UP MINDS TO LEAVE IT ALL BEHIND AS THE LIGHT BEGINS TO FADE ON THE CITY ON A HILL?
Is your light beginning to fade? If so you need COMMUNITY. Do you want your light to shine brighter? The light of Christ can only burn brighter in COMMUNITY when you join with others whose lights are shining in the city on a hill.
Don't run away. I need to hear your courage, you need to hear my words and together we need to kindle the flame of the one beside us. The truth I am living may bring healing, the truth you are grasping may bring salvation and another may offer truth that provides protection for someone stuck in a storm.
The knocking beckons us to move closer, to shine brighter, to find His rhythm in our own souls and bend a knee or pull up a chair and glean the glory of the Lord and His benefits for you in someone else's story.
AND THE FATHER'S CALLING STILL
COME HOME
TO THE CITY ON THE HILL
COME HOME"
For you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. Ephesians 5:8