BEAUTIFUL. Josh Garrells

Farther Along 

Farther along we’ll know all about it 
Farther along we’ll understand why 
Cheer up my brothers, live in the sunshine 
We’ll understand this, all by and by 

Tempted and tried, I wondered why 
The good man died, the bad man thrives 
And Jesus cries because he loves em’ both 
We’re all cast-aways in need of ropes 
Hangin’ on by the last threads of our hope 
In a house of mirrors full of smoke 
Confusing illusions I’ve seen 

Where did I go wrong, I sang along 
To every chorus of the song 
That the devil wrote like a piper at the gates 
Leading mice and men down to their fates 
But some will courageously escape 
The seductive voice with a heart of faith 
While walkin’ that line back home 

So much more to life than we’ve been told 
It’s full of beauty that will unfold 
And shine like you struck gold my wayward son 
That deadweight burden weighs a ton 
Go down into the river and let it run 
And wash away all the things you’ve done 
Forgiveness alright 

Chorus 

Still I get hard pressed on every side 
Between the rock and a compromise 
Like the truth and pack of lies fightin’ for my soul 
And I’ve got no place left go 
Cause I got changed by what I’ve been shown 
More glory than the world has known 
Keeps me ramblin’ on 

Skipping like a calf loosed from its stall 
I’m free to love once and for all 
And even when I fall I’ll get back up 
For the joy that overflows my cup 
Heaven filled me with more than enough 
Broke down my levee and my bluff 
Let the flood wash me 

And one day when the sky rolls back on us 
Some rejoice and the others fuss 
Cause every knee must bow and tongue confess 
That the son of god is forever blessed 
His is the kingdom, we’re the guests 
So put your voice up to the test 
Sing Lord, come soon 

white knuckles.

We hold our hands out in front of us.
One is holding our lives.. gripped, tight, knuckles turning white.
The other reaching out to grasp for things that would seemingly make our lives full.
We add them to the gripped hand, scared each moment upon its opening, that something we worked so hard to get will seep through to be lost.
This job, that house, that man, this dream, that goal, acceptance from this person.
Searching for worthiness and an escape from our many falters.
All this gripping, fighting, seeking has still left us empty.
We knew it would. God, did we ever.
 It didn't stop us from fondling the world for something that would make us feel alive.
We want something more...
we were made for it.

There is this story we are made to be a part of.
It requires a beautiful letting go.
Our focus becomes singlemindely focused on a higher power, your kingdom father, It requires us to hold our own life, loosely, in our hands.
This time all the things inside are jumbled, not in the way we put them in, they swarm in the containment, fluttering in a beautiful mess. We are in awe of you and forget to care.
We aren't reaching out any longer, ONLY UP, and suddenly all the things we groan for, out of needing, appear in the hand that holds our life.
Father God, we fear missing out on what you have for us, but if we are writhing for you, how could we miss it?
Keep us hungry.
Kill our complacency.
Let us make roots in you so our branches can reach further.

We don't want a life we made, we want one that you breathed.