SONGS IN THE VALLEY

I am convinced that on that day, when at last we see clearly and His face shines bright before us He will ask of us, what had we done for Him with our time here?

Eagerly we will explain how we were about His work, how we set His words over our social media screens and shouted them from soapboxes across our city squares. We will tell how we faithfully attended church and supported candidates and legislations and with His name entrenched ourselves within the halls of politics and entered the fray of culture wars.

And He will ask, But what did you do with ME?

Did you take Me and forgive that one who broke your heart? That one who lost all trust?

Did you take Me to that one sick and bed lain and tended to their wounds?

Did you take Me and renounce all violence and retribution of your enemies?

Did you take Me to find that one on their own rocky path, untrusting and exhausted with religion and take their pack up, walking with them down that broken road?

Did you take Me to that one, alone and far from their homeland, welcome them in and clothe and shelter them?

Did you take Me to your neighbor’s home, wholly different from you and break bread with them?

May we remember that our lives are a song, hymns not meant to be sung to others like ourselves. We are living canticles meant to be played out within the dirt and mire. Sung within the rude, rough, and selfish streets of this world. Sung without pretense, without pride or agenda or with any thought of gain so that all may see who He truly is.

Likewise go and do as He has shown you. And in this way, hearts of stone can be made flesh.