Thinking

When asked if I had any ideas for this week’s blog theme my response was … and I quote ...

“Uuuuuhhhhhh ... thinking ...”

So there you go.

I’m always thinking. What am I going to do with that?

Je pense donc je suis.

Here I sit in my local(ish) Starbucks sipping my free birthday iced green tea. I’m reminded why I usually avoid Starbucks if I’m trying to get actual work done. I’m not even sitting under the speaker and yet … their soundtrack is regularly overpowering my own. I don’t need any of your Jedi mind control, thank you very much.

What have I been thinking. I’ve been reading this book and snapped a pic of this passage because it jumped out at me.

The reckless raging fury …

... that we call the love of God. 

Yeah that’s not challenging or anything.

I often feel like I’m being held back. Or that I’m choosing deliberately to hold myself back. Which may be a good thing, but here’s what I’m thinking. In the name of being nice, getting along, and not offending anyone … all of which are good things and noble pursuits … how often have I kept my mouth shut more than I should?

Don’t worry, you won’t find me on a soapbox yelling “Repent!” anytime soon. Although that does bring to mind an interesting visual. Hmmm.

There is an ongoing conversation in the circles in which I run about masks. The masks we wear every single day of our lives. It’s not necessary or even a good thing to share every last thought that crosses our minds. Some of you need to embrace that concept on your social media accounts.

But too much mask wearing, especially in light of a trauma or struggle or grief or pain, leads to us hiding our authentic selves. Our existence looks as rosy to others as our social media persona. For us, this leads to no one thinking we ever need help or moral support or a sympathetic ear or anything at all. For others, it leads to them thinking they can’t share their struggles either. They feel like they’re the only one with problems. That they have to keep the mask on. That everyone will think less of them “if they only knew”. There is so much power in the “me too”.

God forbid someone speak some truth into this world.

Is it any wonder the church is often accused of being inauthentic?

What am I thinking.

Well. As I have moved on from Sbux, stopped by the house, and migrated to one of my usual haunts … my soundtrack continues courtesy of shuffle on both the iPod and iPhone. And here is the burning question to which enquiring minds want an answer. A couple months ago my twenty-something nephew was scrolling through the musical selections on my phone. I don’t even remember why. He proceeded to play a track that, within the first few notes, I explained was “the twangiest song ever recorded about Tennessee”. He immediately told me I was wrong … (hey, I thought he got over that after the teenage years) … and downloaded his version of Tennessee twang onto my phone. He says it’s customary to put his choice on repeat when crossing the border into the Volunteer State. I’ll let you make the call …

Tennessee Twang Candidate #1 can be found here.

Tennessee Twang Candidate #2 can be found here.

I look forward to hearing what you think of these two gems.

What else am I thinking. My soundtrack for today has included, but not been limited to, in no particular order, the following …

Big & Rich

Mercy Me

Jimmy Buffet

Phineas & Ferb (Who remembers S.I.M.P.??? #ProletariatBourgeoisie)

Crowder

Straight No Chaser

Family Force 5

Robbie Seay Band

Newsboys featuring my future husband Michael Tait

Jonas Brothers

Switchfoot

Toby Mac

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Veggie Tales

Ryan Shupe & The RubberBand

Hank Williams, Jr.

HCC Worship

Donny Osmond

And several hymns by various artists.

Cogito ergo sum.

What am I thinking. I’m thinking this is one of the hymns that came up today. I’m kind of partial to this version. I think I’ll just keep listening ...

For more on “Thinking” from my writing partners, see Sue Bowles at bebold7.wordpress.com and Leisa Herren at life4inga.blogspot.com.

Come thou fount of every blessing

Tune my heart to sing Thy grace

Streams of mercy never ceasing

Call for songs of loudest praise

Teach me some melodious sonnet

Sung by flaming tongues above

Praise the Mount I'm fixed upon it

Mount of Thy redeeming love

Here I raise my Ebenezer

Hither by Thy great help I come

And I hope by Thy good pleasure

Safely to arrive at home

Jesus sought me when a stranger

Wandering from the fold of God

He, to rescue me from danger

Interposed His precious blood

Ode to grace, how great a debtor

Daily I'm constrained to be

And let Thy goodness like a fetter

Bind my wandering heart to Thee

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it

Prone to leave the God I love

Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it

Seal it for Thy courts above

Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it

Seal it for Thy courts above

~ “Come Thou Fount”