Picture this:  A road/highway in the US.  Now put potholes about every 100 feet in various lanes.  These potholes usually multiply in number or size every few days, some having the capacity to crack an axle.  OK, now see every car on the road not using signals, rather moving in and out of these pothole laced roads very quickly…or very slowly…depending on the drivers bent.  Now erase some of the lines defining these lanes and add trucks with no emission standards and an occasional road biker who must not love his life at all if he is on the road.  Add in traffic lights that don’t work and cars trying to nose their way into traffic.  After that, realize that every lane becomes two lanes when traffic increases, and finally, make most drivers texting or talking on their cell phone.  Oh, and be on the watch for randomly stopped cars in a moving lane and for cars in the left lane turning right, right in front of you.  OK, now you have the picture of me driving the kids around in Puerto Rico.

I found myself on said road singing American Idol style to a song titled, “The Gospel”.

A RESTLESS GENERATION

WE’RE TURNINGOVER EVERY STONE

HOPING TO FIND SALVATION

IN A WORLD THAT’S LEFT US COLD

 

What are you doing Honda!!!  Are you insane?!?!!  Move!!

 

TO THE CAPTIVE IT LOOKS LIKE FREEDOM,

TO THE ORPHAN IT FEELS LIKE HOME.

TO THE SKEPTIC IT MIGHT SOUND CRAZY

TO BELIEVE IN A GOD WHO LOVES!

 

Holy cow!  Are you trying to kill me?  Please don’t merge, please don’t merge.

 

IN A WORLD WEAR OUR HEARTS ARE BREAKING

AND WE’RE LOST IN THE MESS WE’VE MADE

LIKE A BLINDINGN LIGHT,

 

Did you see that kids?  MMMMOOOOVVVVEEEE!!!! Come on!!!!

 

IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT

IT’S THE GOSPEL

THE GOSPEL THAT MAKES A WAY

 

We almost just died.  How did these people get licenses?  (Insert me honking)

 

CAN WE GET BACK TO THE ALTAR?

BACK TO THE ARMS OF OUR FIRST LOVE

THERE’S ONLY ONE WAY GTO THE FATHER

AND HE’S CALLING OUT TO US

 

(Cue in the kids singing with me)

 

IT’S THE CURE FOR OUR CONDITION

IT’S THE GOOD NEWS FOR US ALL

IT’S GREATER THAN RELIGION

IT’S THE POWER OF THE CROSS

Nope, not gonna let you in.  In your dreams.

Ah, Puerto Rico.  I almost laughed at the hypocrisy and irony of it all as I finished belting out the song.  Then we made it home.

We dropped backpacks, went potty, and I put all the ingredients for dinner into my instant pot.  Then, “bbbbeeeeeewwwww”…the power went out for the second day in a row.  “You’ve got to be kidding me!!!”  I texted my angry emoji to Barrett and then told the kids to put their shoes on.  They grabbed their helmets and bikes and we headed to the park where the rest of the kids and parents decided to hang out while we waited for the power to come back on.

Some played basketball, others climbed the playground equipment.  A few kids started a game and one mom started a bubble maker.  While the peels of fun and laughter rang in our ears, we told stories of our days, what appliances were on when the power went out, and what we WERE planning on making for dinner.  I noticed someone new and went over to introduce myself and hear their story.  I reconnected with our neighbor who just got a new dog and said they were using it to learn how to become good parents.  Then I invited them to church.

The power did not come on for dinner, or for Ronnie and Lydia’s bedtime, so it was all done with candles and iphone lights.  My heart complained and dreaded sleeping with no air conditioner.  Then I thought about how sometimes the hard circumstances bring out the people….literally!  Without the loss of power, we would not have all been hanging out at the park.  We shared stories and made connections.  We checked in with each other to see how we were doing and where our next duty station will take us.  We laughed at each other’s traffic stories and shook our head at the madness of it all.  It’s true, we are a restless generation trying to find our hope in comfort, power, internet, and air conditioning.  Yet I was brought to my knees again seeing that what I really need is the gospel again…to remind myself that all my sins of impatience, grumbling, and complaining are forgiven because of the power of the cross.

 

IN MY OWN LIFE, IT MEANS FORGIVENESS

WHEN I KNOW I DESERVED THE FALL

IT CALLED ME OUT OF MY DARKNESS

AND CARRIED ME TO THE CROSS

IN A MOMENT, MY EYES WERE OPENED

IN THAT MOMENT, MY HEART WAS CHANGED

LIKE A BLINDING LIGHT, IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT

IT’S THE GOSPEL