Context Makes All the Difference
Almost every Sunday I am in my church singing what have become very familiar songs to me. I love music, it helps me connect with God and offer worship and surrender. But many times, I admit, singing the same songs over and over (and hearing these same songs on the radio almost everyday) can lead me to “worship by rote.” I worship, but my heart wanders due to familiarity of the song. But not today.
Today the AGRM Convention officially began with a worship service. Rescue Mission Directors and their staff are at this Convention to network and learn more effective and efficient ways to operate their Rescue Ministries and bring healing and hope to the homeless, addicted and poor in their communities. It was within this context that worship took on a very special meaning.
Those who work with hard core addictions were singing ”How Great is Our God” followed by “Breathe” and it’s chorus which says “I’m lost without You. I’m desperate for You.” I’ve sung both of these songs countless numbers of times, but in that context the lyrics just jumped out as so amazingly relevant for the work of rescue missions.
Over the last 14 years I’ve probably interviewed a thousand homeless men, women and children. Without fail, those who end up homeless realize they are desperate and lost, and in the midst of that desperation they find themselves seeking refuge and hope at a place where the Gospel is lived out every day – a rescue mission. Within the walls of the rescue mission they can find so much more than a meal and a bed. Many join recovery programs and learn about overcoming their addictions by focusing on Christ. And, they find human connection through a Christian community. That human connection is so vital because most of those who end up homeless find themselves isolated, rejected, and alone. Within the context of a caring Christian community, however, they learn how to process life, and addiction, and pain, and abandonment and hurt. The context is significantly different. God breaks through. Their lives are changed from the inside out.
It wasn’t nearly as dramatic as a drug addict who turns their life over the Lord and gets clean – not even close – but today I changed a little. I sang very familiar songs, but the context was different. I sang those songs amid a Christian community who knows the necessity of crying out “I’m desperate for You.” They are a great example to me of honoring God with a broken spirit.
“Sing with me…How Great is Our God!”
David Harms
