These are lyrics I wrote for our little girl, Avery Danielle, who we expect to be born any day now. The backing track is the song “Double Rainbow” by The Gregory Brothers. I made this with the iPhone app, Songify.
Click the play button to hear “It Is Time”. Enjoy.
Have you ever found yourself in a dark place, unable to see anything? Now, I’m not talking about when you were a kid and suffered from Imscaredofthedarkiosis (Nyctophobia) after your parents told you it was time for bed and turned off the lights. I’m just talking about when you walk into a room, there’s no lights, and you ask yourself, “Man, where is a stinkin’ flashlight when you need one?!”
I recently returned to the “normal” working world part-time and happened to find myself in this exact situation. I was sweeping floors at a local construction site when I walked into a room where the wiring for the lights had not yet been run. I knew there was dirt and trash waiting for me on the floor in front of me, but I couldn’t see a thing. Now, I’ve watched a lot of MacGyver in my day, and I always try and think of what he would do in situations like these. A single match or, at least, a piece of flint might have been useful in some way. I had something, though, that Angus MacGyver never had. It was my own modern day Swiss Army knife. My iPhone. It can do pretty much whatever you need it to do. (except actually cut anything) Is Apple working on that?
One thing it DOES have is the Flashlight App. It utilizes the device’s built-in flash and gives you the ability to turn it on and off with the touch of a button. It also features a compass in case you’re in the dark AND lost. Having to use my phone as a flashlight and push a broom at the same time was a little awkward. (try it sometime)
My phone and the small amount of light it produced was all I had to illuminate that darkness. Was it the perfect tool for the job? No, but it got the job done. A more ideal tool might have been a hands-free helmet light or, better yet, the room could have been wired so all I had to do was flip a switch. But this was not the case. To me, my phone was the right tool for that time and place. I used what was available.
I have a passion for ministry, especially music in ministry. I do NOT have a passion for sweeping floors. I went back to work, though, because any day now my wife and I are going to welcome our daughter into this world and as this little girl’s daddy, I need to provide for her and be there for her any way I can. So now that I’m part-time at my church, am I going to be less effective for the Kingdom of God? The truth is that God is going to use His people no matter who they are or what they are doing, even if they think they’re not the “perfect tool” for the job. We need only be available.
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” -Matthew 5:14-16
I want to encourage you, no matter where you are, to look around. At home. At work. When you go out to eat. I’m guessing there’s someone who’s in darkness. Be a light for them.
-brian
"The Street" 