Oh My Dear

"Oh My Dear" ~Tenth Avenue North

I listened to this song for the first time while I was in China with Aaron, and I listened to it several times again. It's really good =]. It's like a story, and I like that too. It's a song about meeting people where they're at, and being there for them. It's also a song about grace, and loving people unconditionally.

I think there are two pictures being painted in this song:
One is of Jesus, and how He went the farthest mile to meet us where we're at. And once we're able to tell Him our things we feel the most disgusted with, our ugliest parts, He doesn't turn away, but He listens to us and STILL loves us and takes us as we are. It's kinda like what we learned at Family Retreat, that God can make the distinction between the person and the disease of our sin. It's pretty awesome.

The other is of people loving and showing grace to other people. I think its important for us and myself to ask ourselves if we love like Christ would; are we willing to go that mile? One really cool thing about this song is that the speaker initiates the conversations with his/her friend, being the one to ask how they're doing and asking if they could talk for longer. The thing is, even when we say "yes, I will," its really hard to continue to encourage them.. but that's why we need to draw strength from the love that God shows us.

I myself haven't been as motivated as i used to to that extra mile and ask how people are doing.. to stop listening to myself and make the effort to tune into other people's channel and listen with God's love. Or, on the other hand, to let others hear my pain, and share with brothers or sisters about the things that shame me, knowing that Christ's blood washes over all of it. Yeah. I just really like this song. I'm not saying we need to share our problems with absolutely everyone (unless we feel convicted do so!), but I do hope that I and we can move towards transparency that is centered on Christ's work of love on the cross for us, so we can be God's arms for each other when we need it.

You slowly lifted your hands from your head
You said, "I just don't think you'll understand"
You'll never look at me that way again
If you knew what I did"

And so your tears fell and melted the snow
You told me secrets nobody had known
Oh, but I never loved you more
Even though I knew what you did

Until this guilt begins to crack,
And the weight falls from your back
Oh my dear, I'll keep you in my arms tonight.

=].