"Closed"

Time for a silly song...

“Closed”

She said, “I’ve got to do something, would you look these nails and this hair.”

“I need some polish and a trim, can you take me over there?”

Caught in a place it’s hard to navigate, what would any good man say?

So I leaned in close, did my best to reassure, that she was a thing of beauty, every word the truth

But when that didn’t quite put the issue to rest

I swallowed hard, bucking up to be the bearer of bad news

Baby, they’re closed, they ain’t letting no-one in,

The doors are locked and no lights on inside. 

They’re closed, but still you look great,

Sure your hair is long, and maybe there’s a split end or two,

There’s no sense in going, you can’t get in,

Red or blue, those nails will have to do.  They’re closed.

She said, “I haven’t cooked, Can we eat out tonight?”

I blinked twice hard, looking close, confused for a sec,

Thinking maybe I had misheard something there

We looked at each other, I stared deep in her eyes,

The silence was thick, it had to break, so finally I said…

Baby, they’re closed, they ain’t letting no-one in,

The doors are locked and no dining inside. 

They’re closed, it’s a wasted trip,

we can drive on through,

This is true, but your food will get cold.

Those cold French fries, will put a tear in your eyes –

it ain’t worth the four bucks this time.  They’re closed.

So here I am, at the store, the essentials have run dry.

I’m on a mission, I need supplies and I’m trying to do this thing,

Needing just about everything but the kitchen sink.

Dish soap, hand soap, paper towels, milk…

Come on now people work with me –

But they’re closed, they ain’t letting me in,

The doors are locked tight and there’s nobody inside,

The lights are off, there’s no-one home, what can I do?  They’re closed.

I’ve tried again, now I’ve walked up, there’s someone there, smiling hello

I nod and wave, my lucky day – open at last

I get inside, I’m home free now – walking ‘round, here we are, I’m to the aisle I need,

But wouldn’t you know, here I am, and still no TP.

Case closed…

Journal

“Journal”

From the moment that I wake up, ‘till I lay down my weary head

There’s no moment that escaped you, nothing outside your grasp

Your shepherd’s rod has led me, my life’s balance held firmly in your hand.

So let me walk each day in worship, let me seek the kingdom come

Let me follow in your footsteps; let me see thy will be done.

Each day’s a journal page that brings me closer to the end.

So let me draw closer to the savior and be called his friend.

There are days I wonder if we’ll ever see your face

What walking blindly through the fields of your abundant grace.

And though I tend to wander, sometimes feeling all alone

I know my savior has gone to prepare for me a home.

So let me walk each day in worship, let me seek the kingdom come

Let me follow in your footsteps, let me see thy will be done

Each day’s a journal page that brings me closer to the end.

So let me draw closer to my savior and be called his friend.

And when I cannot feel you moving it doesn’t mean you aren’t there.

And when I cannot hear your whispers it doesn’t mean that you don’t care.

O all my feelings, all my senses, all I tend to rely upon

Cannot match, cannot shake, cannot contain – the power of thy name.

So let me walk each day in worship, let me seek the kingdom come

Let me follow in your footsteps, let me see they will be done

Each day’s a journal page that brings me closer to the end

So let me draw closer to my savior and be called his friend. 

Each day’s a journal page that brings me closer to the end,

so when I meet my savior, let me be called his friend.

Surprise

“Surprise”

These are uncertain times, the world around us looks so foreign.  

Life as we should know it’s been ravaged by a curse more felt than seen.  

But the harder part to swallow, isn’t in the now, 

but in the ‘morrow – concerned where the days might lead.  

In our minds this looked so different - 

A picture painted with different colors, a canvas cast in different shadows.

Now Surprise – it’s not what we expected.  The world we knew has shifted, and we search for stable ground.  Surprise, what was once calm and collected, left us unnerved and with some questions, only you can satisfy…Surprise.  Oh Surprise.

Even from the first we thought we knew what we wanted - 

Reaching for the things we thought would satisfy.  

Now as the things we thought we were stable crumble around us and our systems shatter tragically, we search for things that matter – 

maybe we’ll realize we have put things in places they should never be. 

And surprise – we aren’t really in control.  There’s answers and questions that we have never known, slipping cleanly through our grasp.  Surprise, the illusion has been broken; truth is in the words you’ve spoken, left hidden in plain sight…surprise.  Oh Surprise.

Bonded as the broken, feeling meant for community.  

Truth is we don’t know how to live alone.  

We’ve never grasped the idea of a world never intended to be home.  

While we say we long for heaven, we love this life that we’ve been given,

and we cling to every breath. 

And Now – can we finally really listen.

Now – can you open up these eyes.

Can we finally see the one we should have always recognized?

 

Surprise – you’ve made plain what was hidden, and with every gift you’ve given, you unveil more of your mystery.  Surprise – you’ve made wisdom from the foolish, turned things in new directions to create a masterpiece.  Surprise.  Oh Surprise.