RUSH and God in the same post? Borderline blasphemy from either side, perhaps? Despite my three favorite (favoUrite?) Canadians being a “wee bit” on the atheist side of things, I, myself, find a lot of spirituality in their music. Perhaps that’s what makes a good lyricist – he sees things his way, but I can also see things my way. (FTR, no matter his stance on anything, Neil Peart is my hero. 🙂 )
Today was a disappointing day. We’re going through some things in our personal lives that I won’t bore you with – pretty much because it’ll just sound like whining. Our lives are not perfect, but they’re not awful, either.
I’ve said many times before to folks, the boys from The Great White North pretty much have a song for everything, and this situation is no exception. “How It Is” came on while I was driving to pick up my boy from his Boy Scout meeting.
One thing you have to understand, the album Vapor Trails, from whence this song came, was born out a great trial in life Neil Peart had to deal with – the loss of his daughter in a terrible car accident and the loss of his wife to a broken heart nearly a year later. See why I’d just be whining about my piddly problems?
I’m often bringing their music back around to my Christian way of thinking, and damn it if it’s not right. This situation is how it is. God’s trying to communicate with us here, and we have to be open to listen. We didn’t get what we expected, but the answer didn’t change our immediate future – and what a blessing that really is. It could have been worse, but it’s not.
So, I did my whining, asked God for the night to get over it, and I’m sure I’ll be better in the morning.
I do a much better job of putting things into perspective these days. Earlier in our marriage, I would have lost sleep, given myself a stomachache or a headache, and dwelled on it for days.
Jesus said, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (MSG)
Once we take Jesus up on his offer to bear the weight of our burdens, we’re free. What a friend, what a gift he offers up to us! We give it all to him so we can deal with it in manageable bits – and the best part, he stays with us while we’re sorting it all out.
The disappointments in life are “how it is”, but Christ’s love and care for us is also “how it is”. And that’s how it ought to be.
Image Credit: WeAreThatFamily.com
Silently Outspoken 