Birdsongs

I guess there is some science as to why birds sing. Smart people study things like this. Apparently in the spring and in the morning it can be a way for the male to attract a mate or tell other birdbrains "this is my territory." I am going to choose to express my subjective, non-scientific reason. Birds sing because God made them to. And going way out on a limb here, I choose to believe God knew that humans would find joy in the sounds of a birdsong. Hence, finding encouragement.

As a musician, I sure understand how circumstances can steal a tune from the heart. There have been times when I wanted to "hang it up" and not play or sing. I think of a time in the bible when God's people were in captivity. They sat down by a river and wept and hung up their harps. They surrendered their songs to discouragement (Psalm 137). Man! I have been there!

Amidst a torrent of the unwelcome and unexpected, this musician has stopped singing. This morning before sunrise, I walked in DC and was greeted and treated to the sounds of birdsongs coming from freshly bloomed dogwood trees. I felt hope. I felt jealous. I have always admired birds for their carefree, "I am singing even if you are having a bad life" attitude! Even wrote a song about it called "Outta Here."

Time to take the harp off the wall and join these feathery band mates in the singing...and never stop. I think it's what you and I were made to do.

tweet, tweet!
john

PAUSE

PAUSE - by John Allison from The Father's House NY on Vimeo.

wisdom from a 10 year old.

I wish I could say I wrote what is contained herein but I did not. It was our 10 year old (at the time) son writing to his mother just prior to her surgery to defeat breast cancer (nearly 10 months ago). I also wish I could tell you that I was as steadfast as he was. There was no small amount of apprehension on my part surrounding everything. When Lori passed this note onto me, I was struck. Struck at how jaded I had become. My shield of faith was missing. Not the shield's fault but mine for not raising it. The words of this young boy went off like a shot in my heart. He was absolutely correct! The situations in life are mere bumps in the road. God is GREATER. GREATER. May we all have a rock solid assurance in our God.

This is an excerpt of his email, exactly as it came to Lori. May you be upheld by its simple truth. ~john

IT JUST TAKES FAITH AND COURAGE, PRAYER AND NO FEAR. FEAR IS WHAT MAKES YOU WEAK IT MAKES YOU NEGATIVE THATS NOT WHAT GOD WANTS. This situation is nothing but a bump in the ground and another step of faith in life that you WILL GET THROUGH!!!!!!

~jonathan david allison, age 10.

cost.

I have been asking myself, "Would I follow Jesus if it cost me everything?"

I'd like to think I would answer, "yes." But after a year of feeling some major discomfort and loss, I know that I am not eager to lose "it" all. I think that "it" is everything we have made of our lives in America.

For the record, my humanity doesn't want to be bothered. I want a comfortable, blessed, every weekend free, air-conditioned and new car life. Major problem, it doesn't seem to be going that way! Wait, is it really a problem or just a conflict of interest? Maybe I am not supposed to want so much from this life. But honestly, I do.

However, I am suspicious that the more intently I follow Christ, the more distant my affections grow towards the things of our culture and world. I have a decision to make. Do I want to follow Jesus? I mean really follow.

If my answer is truly, "yes" than I must be prepared. Jesus may ask me to do things that have little to do with my personal happiness and comfort. In fact, I am quite certain He will invite me to walk on the water and risk everything.

This month I embarked on a new mission, to serve as a member of staff of World Hope International. By definition, my job will require that I think far beyond my comfort zones and look into the eyes of those I have only the fact we are human as a common denominator. I have never known the level of poverty of those we serve. It feels uncomfortable. I have no other way to express it. It costs.

I'd invite you to visit www.worldhope.org and see if you might find a way to join me on this new journey.

many thanks,
john

a great memory from 2006. my best musical friends!

puffs of air.

Here I go, struggling again for the world to see! Now in my middle forties, I wonder where life has gone so quickly. I feel the pull of trying to "stay young, hip and relevant." I am now too old for many things in life...I don't even think the Army would take me! How did this happen??? Someone pass me an 8-track or a LP, I want to be young again!

I see it all the time in my work (a Membership/Wellness Director at a YMCA), people working out to stay fit, healthy and straining to hold onto to the vitality of youth. Don't get me wrong, I am straining to...it's why I run. But I see it's ultimately a losing battle. Letting go of this life is a true mark of getting what it's all about. I don't mean to cease caring either.

Let's face it, in our bathtub of life, the drain plug has been pulled! The water is decreasing...for all of us. The sooner we embrace that this life is not all there is...the better this life will become. "John, did you hear that?" [speaking to self]

^1-3 I'm determined to watch steps and tongue so they won't land me in trouble.
I decided to hold my tongue
as long as Wicked is in the room.
"Mum's the word," I said, and kept quiet.
But the longer I kept silence
The worse it got—
my insides got hotter and hotter.
My thoughts boiled over;
I spilled my guts.

^4-6 "Tell me, what's going on, God?
How long do I have to live?
Give me the bad news!
You've kept me on pretty short rations;
my life is string too short to be saved.
Oh! we're all puffs of air.
Oh! we're all shadows in a campfire.
Oh! we're just spit in the wind.
We make our pile, and then we leave it.

^7-11 "What am I doing in the meantime, Lord?
Hoping, that's what I'm doing—hoping
You'll save me from a rebel life,
save me from the contempt of dunces.
I'll say no more, I'll shut my mouth,
since you, Lord, are behind all this.
But I can't take it much longer.
When you put us through the fire
to purge us from our sin,
our dearest idols go up in smoke.
Are we also nothing but smoke?

^12-13 "Ah, God, listen to my prayer, my
cry—open your ears.
Don't be callous;
just look at these tears of mine.
I'm a stranger here. I don't know my way—
a migrant like my whole family.
Give me a break, cut me some slack
before it's too late and I'm out of here." (Psalm 39, The Message)

This Psalm says it best. The Bible always has a way of doing that!

a puffy stranger,
john