"I ain't no Moses but I ain't no clown"

I thought I should provide a bit of commentary on the song I posted last night. Though it made for a great title for my first blog entry in several months, I DO enjoy stories of the sort described, and I tend to follow the "Esther S. Cape School of Conflict Management" (as I spoofed in a skit for the Young Peacemaker's curriculum a couple years ago), the verse that really caught my attention was the one involving Joshua. I don't typically see myself as a Joshua-type figure (partly due to the lack of Moseses in my life), but I find myself in leadership roles and I feel I need someone telling me, "Be strong and courageous" (Josh. 1:6-9). I don't feel like a leader, I don't want to be a leader, I've not always had good relationships with leaders. Part of it, I'm sure, has to do with growing up in the anti-authoritarian 60's, when everyone in leadership roles was thought to be evil or corrupt, part of it has to do with failed father-figures. Whatever contributes to it, I have this dislike/distrust/dishonoring attitude towards authority. And yet--as Pogo observed all those years ago--"we have met the enemy and it is us!" I can't say older white men in positions of leadership are all bad because I am one (unless I just want to be bad and make an excuse for it). Whatever my father or step-father did to me, I AM a father now, and it's up to me to be the best father I can be. I've been appointed as the Director of Christian Formation at my church, and people are counting on me to be a disciple of Jesus and a discipler of others (which I should be anyways, just be virtue of being a Christian, but having that title really clinches the deal!). I ain't no Moses, but that's no excuse to be a clown. There's work to be done and "Christ is counting on me."

"I'm Still Here"

I heard a song the other day on last.fm from the group Waterdeep. I haven't been able to track down sufficiently the credits for words or music (so apologies to those responsible), but the lyrics really spoke to me, and I thought I'd share them with you here:

"I'm Still Here"


I went flying in a dream last night
Whenever I was scared, I took flight
It didn't seem brave and it didn't seem right
but it always seemed easier than puttin up a fight

CHORUS
And I'm almost gone
But I'm still here

Tell me a story that'll make me feel
Something far flung but something real
Something that's human but not depraved
Somebody endangered, but somebody still saved

When Joshua sat them children down
He said I ain't no Moses but I ain't no clown
And I know how that river's wide
But if you follow me we'll make it to the other side

CHORUS
And I'm almost there
But I'm still here