[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uA_ya8DcLs[/youtube]
Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
No it won’t all go the way it should
But I know the heart of life is good
In days after Eliot, the album entitled Continuum by John Mayer provided a sort of soundtrack to the beginning of our grieving. I couldn’t tell you how it came to be our go-to record during this time or how we began the habit of playing it on repeat in the background, but it probably has something to do with a subconscious attempt to drowned some of the feelings present during the dark days; but these feelings are apparently buoyant and our numerous attempts to submerge them always failed. I guess grief wears floaties.
Today- upon hearing a song from the album by chance- I will instantly return to those days I simply refer to as low. And I kind of think that God spoke to me through John. Okay, there goes my one-line attention grabber, pot-stirring dinger of the day . Some of you will roll your eyes at the God spoke part, while others of you will go valley-girl-disgust at the John Mayer part.
Today, I am addressing only the latter, but for those of you whom I lost at the God speaks piece, just know that I get it. I don’t so much mean audibly spoke to me, through the strange-moving mouth of Johnny. Although, I figure God could do that if He so chose; as I assume he is not solely partial to bushes and donkeys (Bible joke to those of you who have not read the best seller). Rather, I mean a sort of quickening of my spirit in a way that I now know something, that before I did not, or I know it in a deeper way; so much so that I am left to use the cliche’ evangelical “god spoke” line.
We who profess Christ are a weird lot, are we not?
The book we claim as our own refers to us a a “peculiar people”. With that said, I have noticed two distinct camps when it comes to a particular topic that has come to greatly intrigue me. Group one I will call the only’s, while the second group I will refer to as the all’s.
THE ONLY’S::
I think I know of the existence of this group only because of my propensity to make them cringe. These are the ones that are quite uncomfortable when I quote John Mayer in the course of a diatribe on Jesus or just any conversation whereby I am attempting to convey truth. Of course, they hit another gear altogether when I pull out a quote from Ghandi. Although it is clear by now that I am not in this camp, I get it. This is dangerous territory these days. And the only’s are right to fear that if I quote from someone who themselves are not pointing directly to Jesus, then I run the risk of pointing others away from Him. And that is something we should, and I do, fear.
The only’s will point exclusively to examples in this world of those who follow Jesus, exemplify sound theology- which typically means theology aligned with their own- and never to those following other religions altogether. Of course, this is safe and I cast no aspersions on those choosing to do this. The upside is, in the months to come, those who they quote are highly unlikely to go and write a song about the joy of getting stoned (enter John again).
My problem emerges, instead, when the only’s have a problem with me.
THE ALL’S::
I stole the following line from my friend Stephanie, who I believe stole it from a professor of hers, who I assume stole it from another:
all truth is God’s truth.
All around me, I see shattered pieces of a better kingdom. Wherever I can find these pieces, I will hoist them over my head and call them beautiful. Not because I endorse the shattered pieces, but because I endorse that to which the shattered pieces point. I- and I harbor hope I am not alone here- am not afraid to point to art, to R-rated movies, to toke-taking musicians and find the truth therein that points me to Christ. Often times, the most broken pieces point more clearly to Christ as we church-types often have difficulty exposing our true nature; whereas, these others have given up on the pretense of pretty.
I believe I find a confidant in Paul, who upon entering territories hostile to the gospel, found common ground and began to fashion the gospel narrative from the shared pieces of other cultures. Where is the line of quote-worthy drawn if I, indeed, look to the person? I can point to precious few real-world pictures with full confidence that, in the end, it will actually have pointed purely to Christ.
So I will go on singing songs not found in the gospel section, lifting my eyes to the source of all truth, no matter the medium.
___________________________________
I’ve often noted my insecurity and need for feedback, so here are some things you could comment on and bolster my ego.
– What is the best example of truth you have found in the world (be it from a “Christian” source or not)?
– What are the dangers of the only’s // the dangers for the all’s?
14 Comments
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uA_ya8DcLs[/youtube]
Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
No it won’t all go the way it should
But I know the heart of life is good
In days after Eliot, the album entitled Continuum by John Mayer provided a sort of soundtrack to the beginning of our grieving. I couldn’t tell you how it came to be our go-to record during this time or how we began the habit of playing it on repeat in the background, but it probably has something to do with a subconscious attempt to drowned some of the feelings present during the dark days; but these feelings are apparently buoyant and our numerous attempts to submerge them always failed. I guess grief wears floaties.
Today- upon hearing a song from the album by chance- I will instantly return to those days I simply refer to as low. And I kind of think that God spoke to me through John. Okay, there goes my one-line attention grabber, pot-stirring dinger of the day . Some of you will roll your eyes at the God spoke part, while others of you will go valley-girl-disgust at the John Mayer part.
Today, I am addressing only the latter, but for those of you whom I lost at the God speaks piece, just know that I get it. I don’t so much mean audibly spoke to me, through the strange-moving mouth of Johnny. Although, I figure God could do that if He so chose; as I assume he is not solely partial to bushes and donkeys (Bible joke to those of you who have not read the best seller). Rather, I mean a sort of quickening of my spirit in a way that I now know something, that before I did not, or I know it in a deeper way; so much so that I am left to use the cliche’ evangelical “god spoke” line.
We who profess Christ are a weird lot, are we not?
The book we claim as our own refers to us a a “peculiar people”. With that said, I have noticed two distinct camps when it comes to a particular topic that has come to greatly intrigue me. Group one I will call the only’s, while the second group I will refer to as the all’s.
THE ONLY’S::
I think I know of the existence of this group only because of my propensity to make them cringe. These are the ones that are quite uncomfortable when I quote John Mayer in the course of a diatribe on Jesus or just any conversation whereby I am attempting to convey truth. Of course, they hit another gear altogether when I pull out a quote from Ghandi. Although it is clear by now that I am not in this camp, I get it. This is dangerous territory these days. And the only’s are right to fear that if I quote from someone who themselves are not pointing directly to Jesus, then I run the risk of pointing others away from Him. And that is something we should, and I do, fear.
The only’s will point exclusively to examples in this world of those who follow Jesus, exemplify sound theology- which typically means theology aligned with their own- and never to those following other religions altogether. Of course, this is safe and I cast no aspersions on those choosing to do this. The upside is, in the months to come, those who they quote are highly unlikely to go and write a song about the joy of getting stoned (enter John again).
My problem emerges, instead, when the only’s have a problem with me.
THE ALL’S::
I stole the following line from my friend Stephanie, who I believe stole it from a professor of hers, who I assume stole it from another:
all truth is God’s truth.
All around me, I see shattered pieces of a better kingdom. Wherever I can find these pieces, I will hoist them over my head and call them beautiful. Not because I endorse the shattered pieces, but because I endorse that to which the shattered pieces point. I- and I harbor hope I am not alone here- am not afraid to point to art, to R-rated movies, to toke-taking musicians and find the truth therein that points me to Christ. Often times, the most broken pieces point more clearly to Christ as we church-types often have difficulty exposing our true nature; whereas, these others have given up on the pretense of pretty.
I believe I find a confidant in Paul, who upon entering territories hostile to the gospel, found common ground and began to fashion the gospel narrative from the shared pieces of other cultures. Where is the line of quote-worthy drawn if I, indeed, look to the person? I can point to precious few real-world pictures with full confidence that, in the end, it will actually have pointed purely to Christ.
So I will go on singing songs not found in the gospel section, lifting my eyes to the source of all truth, no matter the medium.
___________________________________
I’ve often noted my insecurity and need for feedback, so here are some things you could comment on and bolster my ego.
– What is the best example of truth you have found in the world (be it from a “Christian” source or not)?
– What are the dangers of the only’s // the dangers for the all’s?
14 Comments
-
on June 1, 2012 at 12:36 pm
This is genius:
“Often times, the most broken pieces point more clearly to Christ as we church-types often have difficulty exposing our true nature; whereas, these others have given up on the pretense of pretty.”I got nothin’ else, that sentence just really distills a lot of things I’ve been thinking. Good post.
-
on June 14, 2012 at 2:32 pm
Kristal,
I’ve been said to have said something genius…..never. thanks.
-
-
on June 1, 2012 at 1:30 pm
Great post! I was just in a conversation the other day that was very similar to the one you started here. Someone asked what the most influential book I had read…and I gave the answer Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver. The person looked at me as if I was a two headed alien and corrected me that I really meant to say it was the Bible, right? Well, yeah, sure…
I read Animal Dreams for the first time as a sophomore in college and have read it almost every year since because it is so full of truth and perspective and much like you & Mr. Mayer…it will always be tied to significant moments/memories for me. Excerpts or quotes will come to my mind a different points on my journey and I know that God has/does speak to me through that book.
Thanks for your post, Matt. I’ve never commented, but am a faithful reader about you & your family’s journey.
-
Sara,
thanks for commenting…now I know you exist! I’m very interested in Animal Dreams now and am about to go google it.
-
-
on June 4, 2012 at 2:24 pm
hi matt.
followed for a long time…first time to comment.
i lost my mother in 2010 – nine weeks after a cancer diagnosis. in that time, i heard a song from sugarland (country). i will shine the light. i will not quote you the entire song. please go listen for yourself if you havent heard it. i have received many a strange look when i share what those lyrics SPOKE to me. i see christ.
to this day, when i hear it, i see him and feel him…he speaks to my heart. and, i believe steven tyler says it best, “it’s amazing….in the blink of an eye, we can finally see the light.”
continued blessings upon you and your house….
-
Greta, thanks so much for taking the time to comment. I so appreciate your words and am sorry to hear of your loss.
-
-
on June 9, 2012 at 9:42 pm
Yes, to all of it. I sometimes call group one the “jesus talkers”. I can’t find a place in the scripture that tells us followers of Christ to hang out, listen to, engage, converse with, support, help, be helped by….ONLY those who call themselves Christians.
Our son died two summers ago, after fighting hard through the haze of mental illness. As a child and then a young man, he came to know Jesus (thanks Joe White and Kris Cooper, and many others), yet he lived in a haze of misery much of the time. And yet, he still continued to profess, as he doubted, the love of Christ. Where would he be – definitely not acting like a “Jesus talker” – if the only way to bear witness for Christ is to be like an exclusive, members only country club.
Sorry – TMI – hope it makes sense, if anything makes sense when your firstborn son is gloriously released from illness, but leaves you behind.
-
Ann,
Not tmi at all. I am sorry to hear of the hurt your son walked through, and sorry for your losing him.
-
-
on June 12, 2012 at 6:21 am
The person who discipled us said it best” we are fringe people” I agree amen amen we can hear God’s still small voice to relay a truth to us and I suppose Matt that only’s might be very cautious in this Godless culture. We must give grace to each other! Prayers for you Ginny Hazel Anders and Lena
-
Phoebe,
I totally agree. Grace to all, and we should be cautious. I will probably disagree with myself in a couple years 🙂
-
-
on June 14, 2012 at 7:29 pm
Walking through an airport in Beijing preparing to board a plane back to America to bring my sweet girl home, I suddenly felt my heart break for her a little. Will she ever step foot on the soil of her homeland again? I knew she was now a part of our family forever, but something about taking her from the only culture she had known to this point gave me anxiety…. I turned the corner and on an airport television (in english) the group IL Divo (not a favorite of mine or anything) was singing Amazing Grace. This brought tears to may eyes since Grace is the name we gave the little angel in my arms…..
I love seeing your little miracle girl at TEAM (she also is amazing)!
-
on June 15, 2012 at 6:15 pm
Let me be the second then to say…genius. As always
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on June 22, 2012 at 9:48 pm
Always inspired to think and to act. To see God for who He is and not who we THINK He is. Love the imagery of the broken pieces and gathering them; hoping to put them back together with our meager hands I suppose, and the power of the only one who truly can. I believe God speaks in every day things ALL THE TIME. Who am I to limit him because its weird 🙂 I felt like God told me once to buy a girl a tube of lipstick. It was weird right, I didnt know her and to make matters worse, I was working at that makeup counter… But I went for it. ” Im a Christian and I believe that God still speaks today(my cheeks are red and embarrassed waiting for her realization that she is talking to a “crazy” takes full force) and I feel like He asked me to buy you a tube of lipstick and tell you he sees you already as beautiful. ”
She bursts into tears and shares with me (in the middle of the department store) that she had a miscarriage that day. An unplanned pregnancy but one all the same. She thought it was punishment from God. He told her he saw her as beautiful already.
Where are we in a shattered world without the words of God, calling us back to a beautiful place once known as home…
-
on June 27, 2012 at 5:03 pm
i have to confess. i just stared at the pic of eliot on your blog reel for the longest time. i had the biggest urge to kiss the computer screen and touch his hands/cheeks. an urge i don’t have to describe to you because i know its your constant. thanks for the millionth time for showing me that even though pain is purposed..its still called pain. and that even when the shattering is put together..you can see the cracks in the pieces. and that we shouldn’t hide the cracks.
songs have an unending way of triggering memories and quickly bringing us ‘back to that place’ whatever that place was….its a quirky thing but i rarely cry in sad movies…but sing that same song, “the good stuff” over and over and i’ll cry through every single stanza.
i say, how else to express to those who don’t yet believe than to show how the familiar can point to the foundation of all things?
This is genius:
“Often times, the most broken pieces point more clearly to Christ as we church-types often have difficulty exposing our true nature; whereas, these others have given up on the pretense of pretty.”
I got nothin’ else, that sentence just really distills a lot of things I’ve been thinking. Good post.
Kristal,
I’ve been said to have said something genius…..never. thanks.
Great post! I was just in a conversation the other day that was very similar to the one you started here. Someone asked what the most influential book I had read…and I gave the answer Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver. The person looked at me as if I was a two headed alien and corrected me that I really meant to say it was the Bible, right? Well, yeah, sure…
I read Animal Dreams for the first time as a sophomore in college and have read it almost every year since because it is so full of truth and perspective and much like you & Mr. Mayer…it will always be tied to significant moments/memories for me. Excerpts or quotes will come to my mind a different points on my journey and I know that God has/does speak to me through that book.
Thanks for your post, Matt. I’ve never commented, but am a faithful reader about you & your family’s journey.
Sara,
thanks for commenting…now I know you exist! I’m very interested in Animal Dreams now and am about to go google it.
hi matt.
followed for a long time…first time to comment.
i lost my mother in 2010 – nine weeks after a cancer diagnosis. in that time, i heard a song from sugarland (country). i will shine the light. i will not quote you the entire song. please go listen for yourself if you havent heard it. i have received many a strange look when i share what those lyrics SPOKE to me. i see christ.
to this day, when i hear it, i see him and feel him…he speaks to my heart. and, i believe steven tyler says it best, “it’s amazing….in the blink of an eye, we can finally see the light.”
continued blessings upon you and your house….
Greta, thanks so much for taking the time to comment. I so appreciate your words and am sorry to hear of your loss.
Yes, to all of it. I sometimes call group one the “jesus talkers”. I can’t find a place in the scripture that tells us followers of Christ to hang out, listen to, engage, converse with, support, help, be helped by….ONLY those who call themselves Christians.
Our son died two summers ago, after fighting hard through the haze of mental illness. As a child and then a young man, he came to know Jesus (thanks Joe White and Kris Cooper, and many others), yet he lived in a haze of misery much of the time. And yet, he still continued to profess, as he doubted, the love of Christ. Where would he be – definitely not acting like a “Jesus talker” – if the only way to bear witness for Christ is to be like an exclusive, members only country club.
Sorry – TMI – hope it makes sense, if anything makes sense when your firstborn son is gloriously released from illness, but leaves you behind.
Ann,
Not tmi at all. I am sorry to hear of the hurt your son walked through, and sorry for your losing him.
The person who discipled us said it best” we are fringe people” I agree amen amen we can hear God’s still small voice to relay a truth to us and I suppose Matt that only’s might be very cautious in this Godless culture. We must give grace to each other! Prayers for you Ginny Hazel Anders and Lena
Phoebe,
I totally agree. Grace to all, and we should be cautious. I will probably disagree with myself in a couple years 🙂
Walking through an airport in Beijing preparing to board a plane back to America to bring my sweet girl home, I suddenly felt my heart break for her a little. Will she ever step foot on the soil of her homeland again? I knew she was now a part of our family forever, but something about taking her from the only culture she had known to this point gave me anxiety…. I turned the corner and on an airport television (in english) the group IL Divo (not a favorite of mine or anything) was singing Amazing Grace. This brought tears to may eyes since Grace is the name we gave the little angel in my arms…..
I love seeing your little miracle girl at TEAM (she also is amazing)!
Let me be the second then to say…genius. As always
Always inspired to think and to act. To see God for who He is and not who we THINK He is. Love the imagery of the broken pieces and gathering them; hoping to put them back together with our meager hands I suppose, and the power of the only one who truly can. I believe God speaks in every day things ALL THE TIME. Who am I to limit him because its weird 🙂 I felt like God told me once to buy a girl a tube of lipstick. It was weird right, I didnt know her and to make matters worse, I was working at that makeup counter… But I went for it. ” Im a Christian and I believe that God still speaks today(my cheeks are red and embarrassed waiting for her realization that she is talking to a “crazy” takes full force) and I feel like He asked me to buy you a tube of lipstick and tell you he sees you already as beautiful. ”
She bursts into tears and shares with me (in the middle of the department store) that she had a miscarriage that day. An unplanned pregnancy but one all the same. She thought it was punishment from God. He told her he saw her as beautiful already.
Where are we in a shattered world without the words of God, calling us back to a beautiful place once known as home…
i have to confess. i just stared at the pic of eliot on your blog reel for the longest time. i had the biggest urge to kiss the computer screen and touch his hands/cheeks. an urge i don’t have to describe to you because i know its your constant. thanks for the millionth time for showing me that even though pain is purposed..its still called pain. and that even when the shattering is put together..you can see the cracks in the pieces. and that we shouldn’t hide the cracks.
songs have an unending way of triggering memories and quickly bringing us ‘back to that place’ whatever that place was….its a quirky thing but i rarely cry in sad movies…but sing that same song, “the good stuff” over and over and i’ll cry through every single stanza.
i say, how else to express to those who don’t yet believe than to show how the familiar can point to the foundation of all things?