Jack-o-lanterns

I've recently been introduced to the music of Peter Mayer. One song from his Million Year Mind album is John's Garden. It's an allegory of life written about a fictitious conversation in a pumpkin patch.

Farmer John wandered back
And when he reached the pumpkin patch, began to speak
He said "the weather's getting colder
Summer's over and it's almost Halloween
That's the day, the reason you were raised
When everything about your life will change

You will have eyes to see, and for that night, you'll be
A bright lamp burning in the darkness
But remember that candle shines for only the briefest time
In a jack-o-lantern's heart"

The pumpkins held a meeting then
Some were very apprehensive and afraid
"Could this really happen to us?
What could be the meaning?" is what they were saying
"This is home, it's all we've ever known"
Then one bold, outspoken pumpkin spoke

He said
"I don't need eyes to see, it sounds like a lie to me
I like it just fine here in John's garden
And remember that candle shines for only the briefest time
In a jack-o-lantern's heart"

There is much to ask and to ponder in the pumpkin patch
When imposing old October shows up at last

Then a pumpkin from the farther end
Who had been silent up till then
Over the commotion, said
"What would you rather have my friends
A chance to shine, or die here on the vine?
The better way seems very plain to me

You will have eyes to see, and for that night, you'll be
A bright lamp burning in the darkness
And maybe that candle shines for only the briefest time
In a jack-o-lantern's heart
Oh, but one goblin's smile should make it all well worth while
You know you might even see the starlight
And knowing that time is brief, makes it that much more sweet
When you have a jack-o-lantern's heart"

(copyright 1999 by Peter Mayer)

As I listen to this song I think of how many of us seem content and comfortable to live our lives just dying on the vine instead of taking the chance to shine even for a brief moment. If we're willing to cut the ties of our comfort zones to take a chance to shine with new light it will be worthwhile.

Walk the Line

This past week we watched Walk The Line. (With three young children we usually have to wait until a DVD is available at the library.) A while ago a friend had told us how it wasn't a good movie to watch because it spent too much time on the negative aspects of Johnny Cash's life and not enough on the good news. After seeing the movie though I wonder if this is what the gospel (the good news) is all about.

Walk the Line is definitely not a nice clean Gospel film, but neither is the Gospel a clean story in our lives. Like another friend of mine said, "You can't know the good news until you know the bad news." This film presents the story of man whose life had spiraled out of control to a disastrous low point. All his self-effort had failed to hold things together. Still, God gave him a second chance to redeem his life.

The scene (perhaps dramatized) where a soaked Johnny is looking up at June Carter after she rescued him from a lake is very telling. He whispers, "You should have left me." We need to come to a place in life of realizing we don't deserve to have anyone rescue us from drowning before we are ready to accept the unmerited offer of a second chance. This is the Gospel.

Lily of the Valley

Last Thursday I read a devotional on the title of Lily of the Valley as it applies to Jesus. The vulnerability of this title stands out to me. The size of this flower makes it vulnerable to being trampled and ignored. How often do we do this to Christ? Still He is persistent in bringing beauty into our lives.