Pushing Back the Dark
My new "go to" song is by Josh Wilson, from his new project. The song is called "Pushing Back the Dark," which is, ironically, a theme that has been popping up a lot in my preaching lately. And it's easy to be overwhelmed by the "dark" in our work, especially on a week like this. The events in Boston have reminded us all of the darkness in our world, and of the dark people who don't really care who they hurt in order to...what? Get some sort of message across? If that was the point, we've not yet heard the message. So what was the motivation? Just to hurt people? It is a dark world.
Honestly, some days, it's very hard to do what I do. It's hard to see that there's any "progress" or that our faith is making any kind of real difference in the world. The darkness seems so deep, so pervasive. That's when I have to go to a song like this one to remind me why I do what I do:
One million reasons why, you shouldn't even try.
After all you're just one heart, a single candle in the dark.
And there are shadows here, feeding on your fears
That you don't have what it takes - who are you to make a change?
But don't underestimate the God you follow.
Whatever you do, just don't look back.
Somebody needs the light you have.
Whatever you do, just don't lose heart.
Keep on pushing back the dark,
Keep on pushing back the dark.
This theme in my preaching comes from a great story I heard Adam Hamilton tell, about how, in the days when there were lamplighters who lit the street lights each evening, a young boy was sitting by the window of his home. He was quiet, just staring out the window, when his mother asked him what he was doing. "I'm just watching the man outside punch holes in the darkness." I love that image. That's our calling, that's our ministry. We may not—will not by ourselves—completely get rid of the darkness in our world. We can't. That's ultimately God's job. But it is our calling to consistently and earnestly push back the darkness in our world. Somebody needs the light you have. Somebody needs the gifts you have to offer. Keep pushing back the dark. Keep pushing back the dark.
All right, then. Let's take on today.
+++++++
You can get Josh Wilson's song here.
Honestly, some days, it's very hard to do what I do. It's hard to see that there's any "progress" or that our faith is making any kind of real difference in the world. The darkness seems so deep, so pervasive. That's when I have to go to a song like this one to remind me why I do what I do:
One million reasons why, you shouldn't even try.
After all you're just one heart, a single candle in the dark.
And there are shadows here, feeding on your fears
That you don't have what it takes - who are you to make a change?
But don't underestimate the God you follow.
Whatever you do, just don't look back.
Somebody needs the light you have.
Whatever you do, just don't lose heart.
Keep on pushing back the dark,
Keep on pushing back the dark.
This theme in my preaching comes from a great story I heard Adam Hamilton tell, about how, in the days when there were lamplighters who lit the street lights each evening, a young boy was sitting by the window of his home. He was quiet, just staring out the window, when his mother asked him what he was doing. "I'm just watching the man outside punch holes in the darkness." I love that image. That's our calling, that's our ministry. We may not—will not by ourselves—completely get rid of the darkness in our world. We can't. That's ultimately God's job. But it is our calling to consistently and earnestly push back the darkness in our world. Somebody needs the light you have. Somebody needs the gifts you have to offer. Keep pushing back the dark. Keep pushing back the dark.
All right, then. Let's take on today.
+++++++
You can get Josh Wilson's song here.
Perfectly said. Rest assured, you have had a direct impact on making a difference in my heart and my faith. Thank you for this. I needed to read it today.
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