I've just been marinating in Welcome to the Welcome Wagon over the last few days. Amazingly Jesus-centered album. If you like Sufjan at all, you'll dig this album by friends of his, Vito and Monique Aiuto. Vito pastors Resurrection Pres. in Brooklyn, and I have to wonder, with the success of this album (selling well on Amazon, positive review @ Pitchfork) how long will his cell phone number remain on the interwebs :) Sufjan produced, played instruments and helped with arrangements and it's obvious from the opening notes.
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/147938-the-welcome-wagon-welcome-to-the-welcome-wagon
I was listening to it as I worked out yesterday and had a nice God moment.
Generally, working out at the gym is an exercise in amusement and frustration. Often, I'm either annoyed by those around me (wipe down the machines people...) or bemused (a muscle shirt, camouflage do-rag and Gold's Gym/Hammer pants? Really?).
People tend to be more an obstacle to get around as we all move past each other in our individual iPod worlds. And beyond the previously mentioned annoyance or bemusement, I don't often feel much for those I'm sharing the stale gym air with (I admit that to my shame).
But yesterday, as I listened to Sold! To the Nice Rich Man, that changed, at least for a moment. And hopefully longer...
"Rich Man came to our town
And wandered around
Wandered around...
Rich Man came to change our minds
Change our plans
Take our things...
Rich Man bought our wandering world
Our wonderful world
Our wondering world"
I was listening to those words, walking down the row of ellipticals, and noting each person. "There's one Jesus bought. There's one Jesus bought. There's one that Jesus bought. There's not a person I can see that Jesus hasn't bought and paid for."
Rich Man came to pay the price...
I just stood there for a minute, looking around and around, feeling how this perspective changed my arrogance (what is "bemusement" but looking down on someone? Hammer pants aside...) and my annoyance at all the people in my way into compassion and even appreciation.
We're divided by so many things in our world- our politics, our incomes, our race and theologies... It's ridiculously easy to simply see all those around us as "the other" until they give us the secret handshake (or the fish bumpersticker) that breaks down that wall.
So frustrating that even pastors forget that Jesus is our peace who has broken down every wall. People may still reject "the Lord who bought them" (2 Pet 2:1), no doubt.
But... this has really been growing in my mind recently- how I see people, feel about people.
Do I just love those who love me? And do I love people based only on our shared humanity (and where would that leave me when they act in-humanely)?
Or do I see (not just theologically) each person as someone Jesus purchased at great price to Himself?
Rich Man came to change our minds
Change our plans
Take our things...
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