I remember well sitting on the long and curved wooden benches that creak with every move at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville several years ago. I was frantically scribbling lyrics of a song, the chorus ringing in my ears and head and heart for weeks to come. The phrases I remembered out of order I now know, of course, were these:
It’s true, kingdoms and crowns
a God who comes down to find us
and angels sing through the night
Hallelujah.
It’s true.
I’ve later memorized the lyrics from the album which later was released by Sara Groves. But I notice every Year that the album has become a part of my Christmas rhythm.
A few days ago, on a couple-hour drive back from training, I found myself with blurry vision singing loud and raspy with teary eyes and a heavy heart. Don’t act like you’ve never done it. A lyric from the song I didn’t scribble down that night has come to bear much weight for me and all I find myself working on and with and through toward God’s kingdom come on earth as in heaven.
Heard it told, you think it’s odd
The whole thing fraught with complication
The play begins with a baby God
And all his blessed implications
I find myself in board meetings and counseling sessions, in conference rooms and churches, in arguments and gripe sessions, at parties and dinners, I find myself noticing over and over again in multiple contexts that in following suit with the prayers we are bold to pray, Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, we are more often than not called to play the game by wholly other, ridiculous rules.
Let’s address systemic sin, injustice, oppression, blindness and heartbrokenness with a baby God.
Let’s address self-centered, self-righteous, power-mongering and king-complexes with humility.
Let’s address loneliness, addiction, anger, despondency and bitterness with unconditional acceptance.
Let’s address greed, materialism, xenophobia, racism and ignorance with generosity, hospitality and forgiveness.
It’s makes no sense.
It feels all wrong.
It sounds as good a plan as the whole story beginning with a baby God.
And yet, when we hold our breath and close our eyes and take our steps
in wholly other and wholly odd directions with wholly other rules
kingdom comes, just like it crashed in
when the play boldly began with a baby God.
It’s true.
djordan
Pine Tree
most hopeful 
I love that song. Sara Groves has a way with words. There are often lyrics of hers that leave me with a lump in the throat. I once listened to “He’s Always Been Faithful” on constant repeat on a 13 hour drive. It’s true (pun intended).
And not too long ago, I had the blurry vision drive to a new album of Steven Curtis Chapman’s hymns.
For some reason, this post reminded me of an Andrew Peterson song. Please tell me you know “After the Last Tear Falls.” Your song is the beginning of the true tall tale and “After the Last Tear” is the “…and they lived happily ever after.” They both remind me that this is a true story in which we are living. If you haven’t heard it, do please take a listen. His kingdom will come!