Bits for Sunday, March 21

I have a lot of quirks.

They’re why you love me, right? :)

Back when I turned 30 (as if that was sooooo long ago) I made a list. List making is one of my quirks, so this should not shock you. It was filled with things I wanted to do to improve my spiritual life, my ministry life, my home life, my relationship life, and the enjoyment of life. Some of the things I’ve done well. Others…not so much.

But something I wrote down to go along with the list was my theme song for this decade. And I hope it’s actually my theme song for life. Also not shocking to you, it’s a Gaither song. You know I love their music, but this may be my most favorite song they’ve ever written.

Since I’m still music-less in my car for two more weeks, I decided to sing this one to myself on the way home from church today. I won’t put all the words here, but I wanted to list some that spoke to me a little extra today.

I then shall live as one who’s been forgiven. On one of the Gaither tapings, Gloria talked about that line and how she wondered how we would live if we did, in fact, live as forgiven people. I’d never given it much thought before I heard her say that. I have been forgiven. I am forgiven. I know that. But I don’t always live that way. A more accurate line for me might have something to do with…I then shall live as one who’s caught up in fear. I then shall live as one consumed with worry. I then shall live as one who doesn’t believe. But to live as one who’s been forgiven. Now that’s some freedom, right there.

I know how fear builds walls instead of bridges. Hmmm, back to the fear! This has been a big one for me this week. God chose this time to make me aware of just how often I build a wall instead of a bridge. And He’s made me aware in a call-to-change sort of way. It has been a tough week in that respect. This is a hard lesson to learn. But if I don’t learn it now, I’m going to have to learn it later anyway, and in the meantime, I’m going to distance people who shouldn’t be distanced.

I’ll dare to see another’s point of view. You know about my praying on the run cards that I use to count laps when I’m running. One set of cards has to do with lessons I am trying to learn now for when I’m married someday. One of the quotes on the cards talks about understanding that there might be more than one way to solve a problem, and my opinion may not be right – it may just be one possible solution. I’m working to understand that.

Your Kingdom come around and through and in me. Gloria didn’t talk about this line in her interview, but I wonder the same things she said about the first line…regarding this one. How would we live if we did, in fact, live as people who invited God’s Kingdom to come around and through and in us? It’s what He wants of us, anyway. Why not live that way? Think of the blessings we would receive and those we would be privileged to give if we lived with His Kingdom infiltrating us that way!

The song has many more lyrics that are equally wonderful. These are just the ones that hit me today. And truly, if someday when I’m old and wrinkled(er), I would hope that those around me could look at every line of this song and say, “She lives just that way.”