"The Sunday morning attendance shows how popular the church is. The Sunday evening attendance shows how popular the preacher is. The prayer meeting attendance shows how popular God is." source unknown.
Bruce Cockburn's song Rumours of Glory has been on my mind for the last 10 days or so. We need a constant experience or flashes of glory to maintain our faith and passion for God. Even in the ambivalence and pain of life, even in the uncertainties or struggles with believing any good can come out of a situation we need rumours of glory. This is hope, the reality of living faithful lives. Glimpses of something better than gold - God.
Smiles mixed with curses - The crowd disperses - About whom no details are known - Each one alone yet not alone - Behind the pain/fear - Etched on the faces - Something is shining - Like gold but better - Rumours of glory Bruce CockburnI live this way. This is foundational. This is the core. This is my reason and meaning. This has been laid bare in many ways recently and yet my heart is heavy because so many don't hear or see the rumours or glimpses of the glory of God in their lives. This is what discernment is all about. Not the happy false grin but joy that wells up even in the most difficult situations.