This morning I woke up to a song on the radio that I have been hearing a lot lately. It's called "How To Save A Life" by "The Fray." I really liked the music and the flow of the song but sometimes had a hard time catching the lyrics especially in the grogginess of the morning. This afternoon as I was working the song came on again so I thought I would look up the lyrics and read along. This decision has slowed my afternoon pace. If you know me then you know that songs tend to hit me in ways that other mediums don't. In case you have never heard the song, here it is with the lyrics:
Step one you say we need to talk
He walks you say sit down it's just a talk
He smiles politely back at you
You stare politely right on through
Some sort of window to your right
As he goes left and you stay right
Between the lines of fear and blame
And you begin to wonder why you came
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
Let him know that you know best
Cause after all you do know best
Try to slip past his defense
Without granting innocence
Lay down a list of what is wrong
The things you've told him all along
And pray to God he hears you
And pray to God he hears you
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
As he begins to raise his voice
You lower yours and grant him one last choice
Drive until you lose the road
Or break with the ones you've followed
He will do one of two things
He will admit to everything
Or he'll say he's just not the same
And you'll begin to wonder why you came
Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
This really got to me. Upon the brief research I did on the song I know that it is about an experience the writer had working as a mentor at a camp for troubled teens. Prior to even reading this, it made me think of what I do. I am a Youth Pastor and I have worked with youth since I was one. I often stop and think (as I did today) about people I haven't seen in a while. Some that I only knew a short time and others that I worked extensively and intimately with. I wonder about where they are in life now, what kind of decisions they have made and are currently making. I wonder if they ever bring to mind some of the things we talked about.
I ponder these things and it kind of makes me sad. You see, I am among the fortunate few who have combined their passion with their vocation. What I do is more than a job to me. It is my passion and the desire of my heart to work with people and do my best to point them to the Lord and the life that brings fulfillment and joy. I do not see the youth that I have worked with as my job or obligation, but rather as my friends whom I love and care for. I do my best to spend meaningful time with people in either a group or intimate setting and pray everyday that it means something. I know that all I can do is share what I think, my life experiences and the word of God to the best of my ability. I cannot change anyone but it breaks my heart to invest in these lives and the stand back and watch some of them follow roads that will certainly destroy them and all I can do is watch.
It hurts because I would do anything to help, sometimes I just don't know what that thing is. What I do know is the one who does save lives is the one I work for, live for and find my being in so I guess I will leave the saving of lives to him.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Blog Blurbs
I know I know
Ok, its been a month or so since my last post. That is in part because of laziness and another part because I couldn't think of interesting enough to make an entire post out of. So I have decided to give you a hand full of blog blurbs of things that have either happened or that I have thought of since no one likes those posts that are all about why you haven't written.
What is with the Snow?
Don't get me wrong, I love snow... I love it in October, November, December, January... by February, I am done with it and I'm ready for it to melt. So the recent snow and even snow storms, like ones that cancel school are kind of a bummer but it's weather and we all have to deal with it right?
Sad Day
This past Saturday was not a great day for me. When I got up in the morning I stubbed my big toe and cracked the nail down the centre enough that it bled. I was of course nervous all day because of the big game that would either put Montreal into the playoffs or eliminate them. They, as you know, gave it back to Toronto after it had been given to them in a game with a lot of goals, a lot of saves and no defense. Didn't really sleep well that night and had to preach the next morning. Oh well, there's always next year!
Blind Star Choice
I don't watch a lot of TV but I do like to use it to unwind in the evenings sometimes. We have a pretty good package with Star Choice but I have been frustrated with it as of late. Not because I think we need a better package but because of the ambiguity of what is on. You see sometimes it messes up and and every show is just listed as "No Info" so you have no idea what is on any channel. Good thing summer is coming and the TV will be reduced to a minimum.
Don't You Hate Pants? 2
Well yesterday I dawned the shorts for the first time this spring! It hasn't looked much like spring as of late but yesterday and today has seen us in plus temperatures and I am letting the great outdoors know that I appreciate it! I suggest you dig out the shorts too and let the weather know that it is time to warm up!
Things Are Looking Up
Well despite the fact that my beloved Habs missed the playoffs, things aren't so bad. At least it is playoff time and although I can't tell what is on TV for most channels I know that Hockey will be on CBC and TSN every night so at least there will be something on. On another note, I bought a cool score board light for our den yesterday and while purchasing it I joked with the cashier asking if there was any kind of discount since Montreal didn't make the playoffs, she laughed saying that she had seen the game and what a heart breaker it was. Then she says well I'll give you 10% off. I thought she was joking but she wasn't and knocked 10% off!! Probably because I have spent a fortune there already but still, I thought that was cool.
Ok, its been a month or so since my last post. That is in part because of laziness and another part because I couldn't think of interesting enough to make an entire post out of. So I have decided to give you a hand full of blog blurbs of things that have either happened or that I have thought of since no one likes those posts that are all about why you haven't written.
What is with the Snow?
Don't get me wrong, I love snow... I love it in October, November, December, January... by February, I am done with it and I'm ready for it to melt. So the recent snow and even snow storms, like ones that cancel school are kind of a bummer but it's weather and we all have to deal with it right?
Sad Day
This past Saturday was not a great day for me. When I got up in the morning I stubbed my big toe and cracked the nail down the centre enough that it bled. I was of course nervous all day because of the big game that would either put Montreal into the playoffs or eliminate them. They, as you know, gave it back to Toronto after it had been given to them in a game with a lot of goals, a lot of saves and no defense. Didn't really sleep well that night and had to preach the next morning. Oh well, there's always next year!
Blind Star Choice
I don't watch a lot of TV but I do like to use it to unwind in the evenings sometimes. We have a pretty good package with Star Choice but I have been frustrated with it as of late. Not because I think we need a better package but because of the ambiguity of what is on. You see sometimes it messes up and and every show is just listed as "No Info" so you have no idea what is on any channel. Good thing summer is coming and the TV will be reduced to a minimum.
Don't You Hate Pants? 2
Well yesterday I dawned the shorts for the first time this spring! It hasn't looked much like spring as of late but yesterday and today has seen us in plus temperatures and I am letting the great outdoors know that I appreciate it! I suggest you dig out the shorts too and let the weather know that it is time to warm up!
Things Are Looking Up
Well despite the fact that my beloved Habs missed the playoffs, things aren't so bad. At least it is playoff time and although I can't tell what is on TV for most channels I know that Hockey will be on CBC and TSN every night so at least there will be something on. On another note, I bought a cool score board light for our den yesterday and while purchasing it I joked with the cashier asking if there was any kind of discount since Montreal didn't make the playoffs, she laughed saying that she had seen the game and what a heart breaker it was. Then she says well I'll give you 10% off. I thought she was joking but she wasn't and knocked 10% off!! Probably because I have spent a fortune there already but still, I thought that was cool.
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