Thursday, October 3, 2013

Good escape

Mile long: 812

What do you do when you have thoughts you can't express and emotions you can't handle just now? Why, you go to a Switchfoot concert, of course.

You know, the kind of show that is loud - really good and loud - like, you get to sit right beside the speakers and feel the bass drum pound in your chest and the buzz of the electric guitar drowns out the sound of the people singing along, including yourself, so you can sing and yell as loud as you want and feel swallowed up in the life of the music.

Because it takes on life and sweeps you away - it warmly throbs in your head and it rushes over the audience in forms of dancing, swaying, and waving.

The lead singer walks through the aisles among the fans and sticks the microphone in the faces of passionate sing-alongers, to invite them into the life of the music with him.

And you hope he doesn't come your way because you don't want to be spotlighted, but you do want to be known - desperately want to be known within this mass of bodies by someone in some small way.

And the guitarist on your side of the stage looks up and makes eye contact with you, and then holds your gaze long enough to tilt his head, nod, and give you a small smile - not the flashy, flirty, cocky smile of rock stars, but the smile of someone who just read your eyes, knew where you were at, and dedicated this song to you.

So since you're on the edge of tears you go ahead and rock out as hard as you possibly can and shout out the lyrics of hope and life that this band is known for.

Because even though you don't feel full of hope and life, the lyrics remind you of the truth, and you have to proclaim it no matter what.

Here's to you, Switchfoot. Thanks for a good escape tonight.


Sunday, September 29, 2013

One, Two, Three

Mile log: 806

Yesterday, Pam and Andy got married. Such a blessing to be in their lives and a part of their wedding. They had a cord-braiding ceremony, based on the verse in Ecclesiastes that says, "A cord of three strands is not easily broken," and they asked me to write a little something to explain/express that concept. So here it is... 

“One, Two, Three”
from Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
by C.L. Chandler
for Andy and Pam Leeper, 9/28/13

Two are better than one…
If either of them falls down,
One can help the other up          
-              So I commit to love and support you
                to be constant, gracious, and strong
when you are weak.
When you stumble and fall,
I will lift you up again.
When you cannot find your way,
I will shine the Light for you.
When you forget who you are,
 I will remind you of the truth.
Two are better than one…
If two lie down together,
They will keep warm                     
-              So we commit to serve each other
to compliment and enrich
both of our lives.
Let us lie close together to stay warm.
Let us lean on each other to gain courage.
Let us walk in step together to discover
the joy in the journey.
Two are better than one…
Though one may be overpowered,
Two can defend themselves      
-              So we commit to work together
                as partners, to fight for what is sacred.
What the enemy tries to steal, we will protect.
What he seeks to kill, we will rescue.
What he wants to destroy, we will defend.
Three are better than two…
And a cord of three strands
Is not quickly broken                     
-              So we commit our lives to Christ
                who is greater than us,
and makes us complete in Him.
Please weave us into Your glorious plan
so we will trust You.
Intertwine our lives tightly into Yours
so we may not be loosed.
Precious Jesus, bind us together
so we cannot be undone.