In my church community group, we are currently in the midst of a book about prayer (A Praying Life). Prayer is… not my strong suit, and I am grateful for the way the book addresses some of my major hangups with prayer. One of these hangups is, generally speaking, cynicism. Despite my faith, I am good at cynicism and all its cousins – sarcasm, pessimism, cattiness, doubt, etc.
As we discussed the chapter on cynicism, and the ways we fight cynicism, I realized that my main weapon is story – song, book, TV, movie; it doesn’t matter what form, I am constantly seeking out anything that tells a story with forgiveness and redemption and hope. I need things that chip me open, force their way in through my cynicism, and remind me of the Greatest Story Ever Told – that God became a defenseless baby, shared the earth with us, took all of humanity’s sin, died, rose again, redeemed us, and will come to live with us again in a world free of sin and violence and tears. The True Story.
I cannot seem to hold onto this story on my own. I read the Bible, sure, but I need more help than that. I need to hear it 100 ways in 100 different voices. I need lights in the darkness to pull me out of the darkness.
Every Christmas for the past 7-8 years, I have flooded my darkness with lights in the form of the Christmas concert, Behold the Lamb of God (BtLoG). If you know me, I have probably (rather forcefully) told you that YOU MUST SEE/HEAR/EXPERIENCE THIS CONCERT (or at least the CD). Written and performed by Andrew Peterson and friends, it is the story of Jesus, from Old Testament prophets to birth to His return, and it is LIGHT. Not only that, but the artists who perform it are all, in their own right, lights. And every year Andrew invites a special guest to play with the regulars, who, if I do not already know them, is always a wonder to behold.
This year was no exception, and quite frankly, was probably the most phenomenal and lovely surprise of a guest I have ever experienced. Ellie Holcomb – wife of Drew Holcomb of Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors – joined Andrew and friends, and it was mind-blowingly awesome. Not only that, but after my gluttonous second round of BtLoG, I had the chance to chat with her for a moment, and truly, she is pretty much just a giant bright beacon trapped in a tiny little body. She is a bright, bright light in all the dark.
And I am so grateful. I am grateful for these artists and their stories and the way they break through my cynicism and keep it at bay. I am grateful for the way they light up my darkness. If you need a little light in your darkness, I highly recommend everyone you can find at The Rabbit Room (which can rabbit trail you – pun intend – to a whole legion of lights).
Quote for the day:
“So I walked out of the darkness and into the light
From fear of shame into the hope of life.
Mercy called my name and made a way to fly
Out of the darkness and into the light.”
– Ellie Holcomb, “Marvelous Light” (if you want that song – and you do – follow the link to kickstart Ellie! 10 days left!)