Of Healing, Truth and The Church...

A couple of weeks ago I made the confession that I'm a music junkie. Not a real shocking revelation to those of you who know me, but I felt better just saying the words...There's power in confession :) And last night, I had my fix delivered in an incredible, intense, and seriously life-affirming kind of way. Through the generosity of a couple of good friends, I had the privilege of seeing Patty Griffin and Buddy Miller live. I won't bore you with the details, since I know for some of you there's only thing more mind-numbing than talking about music, and that's reading about it...Suffice it to say that on a musical level, it was an artistic statement of rare power and beauty, and I was pretty much on the proverbial ninth cloud all the way through the show. Lyrically, though, I was stunned. Patty's latest album is very gospel-oriented, and I really don't think I've been to many church worship services in my life that moved on the level this show did. This song, in particular...It's called Little Fire:
My friend, come stand beside me
Lately, I'm feeling so lost
A flood came and washed the stones of the path away
And a hot sun turned the mud to dust

Calling the sheep in for the evening
There's a voice, calls above the howling wind
It says comes rest beside my little fire
We'll ride out the storm that's coming in

My friend, you know me and my family
You've seen us wandering through these times
You've seen us in weakness and in power
You've seen us forgetful and unkind

All that I want is one who knows me
A kind hand on my face when I weep
And I'd give back these things I know are meaningless
For a little fire beside me when I sleep


As I was sitting there, it struck me that this is pretty spot-on description of what the Church could, and should be. Instead of simply being the primary place where our spiritual learning happens, the community of Jesus is charged with the task of taking care of people. And not just the people we like. And sometimes in uncomfortable ways. I love the idea that the Church is refuge from the howling wind. That we can be free to be weak, and still be loved. What a great thing to be the fire in each others' lives...Thanks, Patty for the words. Thanks, God, for the reason to write them...I pray we would truly be each others' little fire.
Peace...