This morning I heard a song called "Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling". I'm sure there are many of you who recognize the hymn - it was written by Will Thompson in 1880 and sung at the funeral of Martin Luther King. Even though I may have heard this song before... I heard it for the first time today on New Spring Church's worship webcast. The beauty of the words stopped me in my tracks and quickly faded out everything else around me
"Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling for you and for me. See on the portals He's waiting and watching, watching for you and for me. Come home, come home - you who are weary come home. Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling - calling oh sinner, come home"
There was a time in my life when I walked away from family. Not completely, but the lifestyle I chose was in direct contrast to the values I had been taught in a pretty significant way. While my parent's love and acceptance (of me, not the lifestyle) never wavered, the tension of knowing my life was not right kept me from fully accepting the love they offered. At the moment that lifestyle changed and I came home, broken and empty, the first thing they did was stand by my side and reaffirm that their love for me was as strong as the day I was born. It cannot be more simple - Jesus is that parent waiting, patiently, never ceasing to love and anticipating the day we come home to Him. That day can be right now - release your sin and take hold of Jesus.
I can tell that this will be one of those weeks where a single song will remain in my mind... helping me to think about what I have yet to release to Jesus, what I am holding back and what steps I can take to come closer to being truly home. I hear you Jesus, and I'm coming...
