Trying to find a different way
To build some kind of ladder to the sky
You're trying to find some way to see
The secrets of eternity
But they don’t come all at once
To build some kind of ladder to the sky
You're trying to find some way to see
The secrets of eternity
But they don’t come all at once
And you don’t know why
Well how do you think it feels
To hear you screaming out my name
While all the while I’m trying to open up your heart
I see you when you cry yourself to sleep
It’s tearing me apart
Well how do you think it feels
To hear you screaming out my name
While all the while I’m trying to open up your heart
I see you when you cry yourself to sleep
It’s tearing me apart
I know you wish you could see me
That’s the way it has to be
Someday you will understand
Don’t you lose your faith in me
I know you wish you could hear me
Sometimes it’s so hard to do
But every morning the sunrise says
I’m madly in love with you
-Sean McConnell
That’s the way it has to be
Someday you will understand
Don’t you lose your faith in me
I know you wish you could hear me
Sometimes it’s so hard to do
But every morning the sunrise says
I’m madly in love with you
-Sean McConnell
This song is written from the perspective of God, and I love it so much because it helps me learn to accept grace. That has been the theme of my semester, because it is something that does not come easily to me. Our whole lives we are taught that we need to be 'in the top 10% to go to college' or to be the fastest, smartest, most creative, kindest, and strongest to succeed. And to succeed by the world's standards, this is all true. But it would only make sense that Jesus Christ would come in and shatter our normal system of judging success. He overcame the world, and that means that he overcame our way of thinking. He didn't change the status quo, he rendered it unnecessary and unimportant.
The line that jumps out at me the most is 'I see you down there every day, trying to find a different way to build some kind of ladder to the sky'. I try to build a ladder in lots of ways, whether it be by making good grades, being involved in all the right things, staying away from all the wrong things, reading my Bible enough, or going to church often. All of those actions are inherently good, but they bring me no closer to heaven. I am saved simply and solely by the grace of God- not by my decisions, not by my wisdom of Him, not by my actions. God has saved me because he chose to show me grace. I grew up believing the lie that I had to earn God's grace, which undermines the whole purpose of grace itself. Grace is "the infinite love, mercy, favor, and goodwill shown to humankind by God." Notice that the definition does not continue on with 'but only to those who deserve it' or 'but only to the best behaved'. Also notice the word 'infinite' is used in the definition. We cannot fathom how great God's love for us is, but the song reminds you that 'every morning the sunrise says {HE} is madly in love with you".
God does not grade on a bell curve, but some of my professors do, so I have to continue studying for finals, but all the while I will remember that my salvation is not determined by my accounting grade. Whew!
I write in this blog mostly for personal reflection, and I'm pretty sure not many people read it. But if you are one of the few who does, I hope you are able to learn alongside me and benefit from what I write down. Merry Christmas!
A new favorite verse of mine:
If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.
John 12:47
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