I look around at the small congregation before me. Far to my right sits an overweight girl in her late twenties who pushes away the hand of a conspicuous elder man who forcefully whispers (God know's what) into her ear. The young lady's distant scowl deepens as her fingers swipe away at her smart phone. In front of me sits a retired grey-haired trucker who reminisces with me about his wife. I am sympathetic towards his loss but as the conversation progresses his breath begins to stink of self-centered arrogance. Up front a domineering woman leads a group of uncomfortable militant children through a "fun" song to advertise for Vacation Bible School. The substitute preacher, surrounded by an aura of timid defeat, stands in the back and nervously fiddles with his lapel mic. A few pews away sits an eccentric teenage boy lifting his hands in prayer, apparently guiding himself through his own worship service.
I shift in my seat prepared to dart out. Instead I begin reprimanding myself for criticizing the people around me and feeling so little love for them. After all, there is plenty that could be said about me. My job seems to be turning me into a cynic. I see too many angry kids who have faced years of abuse and neglect at the hands of those who should love them most. I find more and more deception - people who are not what they appear to be on the outside. How am I to love rather than hate? How am I to stay optimistic?
My thoughts are interrupted as the people around me begin to stand with their hymnals for song service. I grab the book tucked neatly into the pew in front of me and flip it open to our opening song, #75 - The Wonder of it All. My heart is gripped by the words as we begin to sing...
There's the wonder of sunset at evening,
The wonder as sunrise I see;
But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul
Is the wonder that God loves me.
O, the wonder of it all! The wonder of it all!
Just to think that God loves me.
O, the wonder of it all! The wonder of it all!
Just to think that God loves me.
There's the wonder of springtime and harvest,
The sky, the stars, the sun;
But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul
Is a wonder that's only begun.
O, the wonder of it all! The wonder of it all!
Just to think that God loves me.
O, the wonder of it all! The wonder of it all!
Just to think that God loves me.
This is the wonderful truth that I have been forgetting. God will bring His justice on those who purposely serve evil rather than Him and His goodness. Yet, we are all deeply loved though we all are broken and not one fully deserves it. The evil in you and the evil in me is not what defines us. God loves the victim and the criminal (at times we all play both). He sees us not for what we do, but for who we are created to be. My role is not judge. My role is to live daily serving good and truth rather than evil. Our song service then closes with a prayer that leaves me feeling humbled and recharged...
Father, lead me day by day,
Ever in Thine own sweet way;
Teach me to be pure and true;
Show me what I ought to do.
When in danger, make me brave;
Make me know that Thou canst save;
Keep me safe by Thy dear side;
Let me in Thy love abide.
When tempted to do wrong,
Make me steadfast, wise, and strong;
And when all alone I stand,
Shield me with Thy mighty hand.
May I do the good I know,
Be Thy loving child below,
Then at last go home to Thee,
Evermore Thy child to be.
#482 - Father, Lead Me Day by Day
