Better Than A Hallelujah Sometimes

Ask someone how he or she is, and most likely you will get the response, "Fine." Greet a parishioner after church and I often hear, "Good Morning!" or "Nice sermon, Pastor." There seems to be an unwritten script to life and expected greetings and responses. In some ways, this provides a pattern and flow to our encounters, and there is some comfort in that familiarity. But sometimes these comments might take the place of what one might really want to say.

I wonder if that might be true in our relationship with God. While there is comfort and great benefit to the routine and liturgy of worship, might there be times what we really want to bring to the feet of God is held inside? Don't get me wrong; I appreciate the flow of worship and the structure of the liturgy - it is one of the things that drew me to the Lutheran church. There is good reasoning for why we do what we do. But there may be times what we need to bring to God in our worship or devotion is what St. Paul calls "sighs too deep for words" (Romans 8). Those sighs might be those times when words are not there, and all we can do is turn to God and fall into God's embrace.  

Amy Grant sings a song called "Better Than A Hallelujah." In this song, she captures this notion. (skip the ad when you can!) 

 

There is a need for good order and the right words and responses. But sometimes there needs to be room for something else.

Peace,

Pastor Charlie