Noah’s Ark
by Jeff Black“I weren’t expecting no rainbows.”
Noah told them cackling hens.
“I weren’t considered no sailor
and i hope that i don’t have to do this again
how many times can you fly out
and leave me with an open empty hand
this time will be the last time
I send that little bird to find land
for days it just kept raining
oh the rain just kept coming on down
i thoudt i’d never get a sign
and i thought for sure that I was gonna drown
then yonder her she come then flying
until that day i couldn’t sing a note
it’s hard to wait for information
and i can’t wait to dock this old boat
if I ever get to heaven
i’ll admit i doubted some
i’ll tell them everything that happened
and ask them why it took so long
and if they find my tools and timber
that I used to build her strong
i hope the fools that do remember…
how on a sea of hope and faith
we drifted home
“I’m pretty sure that someone will be there to meet us.”
Noah told them chickens to their face.
And as he looked out from the mountain
he could see what time would do to this old place.
“Is everybody coming with me?”
It’ll take a little time to settle in.
I hope everyone forgives me
because this took a little longer than I planned
y’all hold on to one another
and you make damn sure that you don’t drift apart
then we’ll truck on down this mountain
and we’ll find a level place to make a brand new start.
Then the sun just kind of peeked out
it was juts enough to make them feel assured
and the only thing that noah kept repeating
was that he sure was glad to see that little bird.
hello… it’s good to see you
it’s been a long long time.
—–”Noah’s Ark,” Lyrics by Jeff Black. From the album “Birmingham Road”. Lotos Nile Music BMI
As I spend this week fasting and praying about all the new changes taking place in my life at the moment, I took a step back just now to read my blog entries from this past winter , “In Every Matter.” It was my New Year’s post, reminding myself and the world in a prayer to God that I wanted to be faithful with what he was doing in my life, and yet acknowledging the fact that I was finding it very difficult to be patient. I said…
I just hope that, in the end, those kids in Africa who need help will be able to understand when I stand next to them in heaven and have to explain to them why it took me so long to give of myself.
Back to the present moment. I am starting as a part-time pastor in a church near here. It is a small church and I am less nervous about the people there and more about the confusion in trying to watch what God is doing and pay attention to it.
In the past post I mentioned that I was thinking about working on an MBA or doing a PhD in Economics. That is because I feel deep about doing something practical and real in the world of the needy and hurting (and economical realities are some of the easiest and most important to make an impact).
I caught myself, while washing the dishes a few minutes ago, thinking about just dropping everything and going into pastoring full-time. Some of my struggles about God’s direction might be dealt with. It really would make a lot more financial sense. It would give me a bit more motivation to speed up my MA in Theology (which would then have to change to be an MDiv instead). I might be able to get a parsonage and have some of my education (or all of it) paid for or at least helped with. But…
But the problem is that I have this burning in my gut for Africa. My motivations to work inside a congregational ministry should be rooted in following God to be a part of the transformation of God’s people and focusing my attention there. I would do good with that. I am sure!! Yet, how would that help me do something real and moving in the world of the needy?
For one, I am in Eastern Kentucky, a place of great need and confusion. Perhaps I could minister to families and help them deal with some of the issues in their lives by praying for them and leading them to follow God’s direction. Yet, I think I would rather be praying with and for the Government officials, the magistrates, economic development agencies, the State Representatives, the Senators and the like, helping them to see how messed up the system has made things for the people in Eastern Kentucky…helping them to see how important education is to the future of the region, helping them to send in more development and jobs to these families.
Part of my problem is that my heart sees these struggles as a spiritual battle. Everything is spiritual for me. I remember that, having grown up in and around a rather confused Charismatic surrounding, my mom reminding me to be weary of the teaching that made us be afraid that their were demons after us and around every corner. Yet, I do see these demons. Perhaps these demons aren’t the ones imagined, yet in this area they are very real. Spiritual warfare, as I see it, is an active (not passive) thing. It requires me to be engaged, not just in my prayer life with my door shut (that is so that God will hear me when I am trying to get his attention rather than that of men), but in my active living life…with my eyes open and my mind on the problems and my hand to the plow.
How long?
Well, not too soon if it means being unprepared. Yet, not too long? Please Lord, not too long!
