Where rainbows never die
I have mentioned the music of Chris Stapleton in a previous blog. He has a song called “Where rainbows never die” that I especially like. It goes like this:
I'm an old man now, I can't do nothing
Young folks don't pay me no mind
But in my day, I sure was something
Before I felt the heavy hand of time
I'm an old man now, I'm bound for glory
Time to lay these burdens down
Had enough of this old world of worry
Gonna trade my troubles for a crown
I will make my way across the fields of cotton
And wade through muddy waters one last time
And in my dreams I come out clean
When I reach the other side
Waste away the sunsets
Where rainbows never die
When I listen to this song, it reminds me of how short our journey is on this earth. Our footprints on this planet are few and our time is fleeting. I have not broached the subject of faith before, but this song in particular makes me think of my faith. I have always believed that faith was a matter of demonstration. Like most things, it is not what you say, but what you do that really matters. Hence, my struggle with most organized religion.
I would categorize myself as a “practical Christian” if that is a thing. From what I have read and learned, the way we treat others is at the core of Christianity. When I think of Jesus, I think of a simple carpenter who carried an enormous burden with him and lived a life completely for others. He spread his teachings through simple stories and selfless demonstrations like washing the feet of another. It was never about him, but about us and who we had the potential to be.
In the Book of Matthew: “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
I wonder why we build elaborate cathedrals to this simple, unselfish, humble human being? I wonder why we ridicule and persecute others in the name of the most forgiving and passionate person of all? It makes little sense to me. And yes, I believe he was completely human, that is what made his life and sacrifice so incredible. He carried the same doubts, flaws, insecurities as we do. But he overcame all of our weaknesses and led a completely selfless life. He showed us what we are capable of being. His church and legacy lives inside each one of us. We don’t visit it just on Sunday, but carry it with us at all times.
I heard a great perspective about religion and faith from my Dad, who relayed a conversation to me that he had with the minister at the Methodist Church in Williamstown where we attended. I was probably in my mid-teens at the time. He told my dad that he believed that over the course of history that there had been many revelations of God, but he believed Jesus was the greatest revelation of God. That made a lot of sense to me. We can all be a revelation of our faith. Maybe a small one, but powerful, just the same.