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.
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9 comments:
yeah I often think about my friends of past and present, thinking about where they are in life and how they are... Makes me miss them though
Wow, that is a powerful song, powerful post too Dan. Makes me thankful for the ones who took those drives with us eh.
I liked that song before, but I had no idea about the background. I find myself talking with Matt many times about where youth are that we have worked with. Thanks for a great thought.
Amen! That goes exactly with the message that Paul Preaches to us in 1 Corinthians 19:20-27. The Race is not over with our own Salvation. This is why we go on for the one who saves Lives.
Thanks God that we have the blessing of knowing God, its not something we should keep to ourselves. People should no our Hero is here.
:'( Why?
I'm pretty sure the more blogs I read, the more often I emote (usually laugh or cry, this time the latter)
I recently had a friend struggle in her walk with the Lord, and well, she fell away and all kinds of hurtful stuff, not only for her, but especially for me...See I don't cry too often for those that are not saved yet, because I have hope that they may become saved...and I've never really had a friend thats fallen away from the Lord before...and it hurt, more than anything, especially that I was capable of nothing. I bawled for hours on end...crying gets me nowhere...but you know what? God gave me tears and I'm going to use them! So yeah, I'm super sensitive to this subject, and I'm pretty sure mentioning anything else will have me bawling for another 2hrs.
But yeah, your blog was intense (for me) Keep it up! (so I can know I'm not alone...aside from God, as in the only one who feels this way)
Its so true that we cannot save people. Our job is to follow God. Our Job is to allow God to use us, and he will. He gives us opportunities to plant seeds, but it is not all about us. God waters that seed. And when we see people that we love and care for who are not living for Christ, we dont know what is going on inside of their hearts, God alone can see that. And he does not give up too easily on his children. He wants everyone to come to repentence.
When I think in my head "what can I do to help this person", or "how can I make an impact", I know that what I need to do is get donw on my knees and pray that God will work on their hearts and put people in their lives. See, I truly believe that in any and all ministry, prayer is THE MOST important thing, because God is the one that saves, not our youth programs, or great music, or our powerful words. Its is the power of Christ.
Great Post Dan.
It's what life is all about. Ministry is not our job, it's our "pass time", everything we do is about "passing time" Eternal time on to others.
I like fishing, But, I'm no more of a fisherman at heart than Peter was. :-)
God Bless Brother
Hi, Dan! Lovely day! Life is good, the doughnuts are sweet, and no one is BOTHERING ME about my problems today! That song really cuts to the chase. Good job.
Dan,
Where's your post on Spider Man 3?? Do you have your tickets bought yet??
It opens today here in Indianapolis...maybe it'll take a week or two for Spider Man to spin his way to Canada. ;->
Tim
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