I subscribe to several newsfeeds that provide job postings for librarians. One job posting in particularl caught my eye last week. I kid you not, this is what it said: “Cataloger or Head of Reference, depending on experience.” I had a good laugh about that. It is sort of an inside joke for librarians but the point is, you could hardly ask for a less likely combination of background and temperament in a job candidate!
We are going through a series at church about dealing with this crazy, hectic, overstressed life we lead. Last week the focus of the sermon was on the need to pause and reflect, using Mary, the mother of Jesus, as a prime example. It says in the Bible that when the angel Gabriel appeared to her and told her of her chosen role, “she pondered these things in her heart.” (Luke 1:29) I enjoyed this aspect because hitting the pause button is something I need as much as anyone. Reference was also made to the fact that we need to look around us and see the beauty of nature, which God created and formed. In our fast-paced lives, we tend to miss God’s work all around us.
A soloist closed the service by singing Chris Rice’s amazing song, “Hallelujahs.” As the words were sung, their meaning and depth made a new and deep impression on me:
“Hallelujahs”
by Chris Rice
A purple sky to close the day
I wade the surf where dolphins play
The taste of salt, the dance of waves
And my soul wells up with hallelujahs
A lightning flash, my pounding heart
A breaching whale, a shooting star
Give testimony that you are
And my soul wells up with hallelujahs
Oh praise Him all His mighty works
There is no language where you can’t be heard
Your song goes out to all the Earth
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!
O cratered moon and sparrow’s wings
O thunder’s boom and Saturn’s rings
Unveil our Father as you sing
And my soul wells up with hallelujahs
Oh praise Him all His mighty works
There is no language where you can’t be heard
Your song goes out to all the Earth
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!
The pulse of life within my wrist
A fallen snow, a rising mist
There is no higher praise than this
And my soul wells up
O my soul wells up
Yes my soul wells up with hallelujahs
Oh praise Him all His mighty works
There is no language where you can’t be heard
Your song goes out to all the Earth
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!
O hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!
Go to http://www.chrisrice.com/articles.php?id=10 to read an interesting story written by Chris Rice about this very song being heard on CNN as it was broadcast from a space shuttle flight.
Yesterday was a very difficult day due to a huge snowstorm in this area. But it was also a very special day because of the kindness of two strangers. The first incident occurred when I was slogging my way through 10-12 inches of snow in the early morning, trying to reach the train station about a mile away so that I could get to work. It was hard going and I couldn’t see my way due to the swirling snow. A guy in a pickup truck stopped and asked me if I needed a ride. I gratefully accepted, and was dropped off at the station in plenty of time to catch the train.
It turned out that that part of the commute was the easy part. My employer provides a free shuttle bus service from a nearby train station to my work, and usually that part of the trip takes about 15 minutes. When I got to the destination station, the bus was very late. The trip to work took over an hour due to the weather. Cars, trucks, and semis were scattered all over the place and traffic was at a standstill.
On the return trip from my work to the train station on the shuttle bus service, I thought I was running on time to be picked up but as I came out of my building, I saw the shuttle bus already driving away. This was the last shuttle bus of the day so I was well and truly stuck. Then I experienced a second act of kindness from a stranger for the day. Another shuttle bus for a different route happened to see me standing there watching my ride drive away without me. The driver opened his door, shouted to me to jump in, and drove after the other bus. Thanks to him I was able to catch up to my shuttle bus and was able to get home from work, after all.
These two acts of kindness truly made my day. Both incidents were unexpected and undeserved. It feels so good to be on the receiving end of the kindness of strangers. I am resolved to be more prepared to show kindness to others as a result.