I looked back at one of my journal entries today.I’m in a melancholy mood. The words to an old song by a group, The Carpenters, keep floating through my head. The song, written by Paul Williams & Roger Nichols, is called “Rainy Days and Mondays.” The song has a refrain that goes, “Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down.” Well, it’s not raining today so it must be the fact that it is a Monday that has affected my frame of mind.
As I said at the beginning, I was looking at a journal entry in which I wrote the following words, “Walls make you feel safe. Windows enable you to see through the walls, while remaining safe on the inside.” Throughout that journal entry I noted that walls pop up everywhere in our lives. There are walls that affect our careers, our ambitions, our relationships. Everything. The thing about walls is they allow us to remain safely tucked behind them, looking through the window, but never venturing out to face the challenges on the other side. This can be unhealthy.
In that journal entry I also noted that I was praying for God to move me from behind my wall of safety to a place where I could make a greater impact in my world for Christ. I actually wrote that I would be willing to pastor a church and lead a flock into uninhibited worship and dedicated service for the cause of Christ. Furthermore, I wrote that, at that time, I felt stifled in my service and smothered by my passivity. That was years ago (four, to be exact). What in the world did I pray that for? Now look at me! I’m a senior pastor.
Here are some words of wisdom for you: Watch what you pray for. You just might get it. Ha!
So, the words to this old song had been floating through my mind. The neat thing is, Ive found they provide a “spiritual vitamin” for a melancholy Monday:
Talkin' to myself and feelin' old
Sometimes I'd like to quit
Nothing ever seems to fit
Hangin' around
Nothing to do but frown
Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down.
What I've got they used to call the blues
Nothin' is really wrong
Feelin' like I don't belong
Walkin' around
Some kind of lonely clown
Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down.
Funny but it seems I always wind up here with you
Nice to know somebody loves me
Funny but it seems that it's the only thing to do
Run and find the one who loves me.
There! Did you catch it!? That last verse. It’s in these melancholy moments that “I always wind up here with you.” That would be “with Christ.” “Nice to know somebody loves me.” That would be God. “Run and find the one who loves me.” That would be Jesus. At least, this is the way I processed the words on a melancholy Monday.
So what’s the point? The first point is: dare to pray for God to move you beyond the walls that inhibit your life. If the walls are never torn down between you and your ambitions, you will never advance in your career. If the walls are never torn down between you and your relationships, you will never have good friends. If the walls are not torn down between you and your inhibitions, you will never step out in faith so that God can use you to make an impact within your spheres of influence.
The second point is, don’t waste rainy days and melancholy Mondays. Allow them to drive you to the savior. It is in these moments that we are apt to drop our guard and allow God to comfort us. It’s in these moments that we do some of our most passionate praying. It is in the quite reflection of these moments that our minds and hearts are receptive to the Lord’s leading. So let him tear down the walls and lead you along life's way. Amen? Amen.
Just some melancholy thoughts, on a rainless Monday, from the heart and mind of Victor
So, the words to this old song had been floating through my mind. The neat thing is, Ive found they provide a “spiritual vitamin” for a melancholy Monday:
Talkin' to myself and feelin' old
Sometimes I'd like to quit
Nothing ever seems to fit
Hangin' around
Nothing to do but frown
Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down.
What I've got they used to call the blues
Nothin' is really wrong
Feelin' like I don't belong
Walkin' around
Some kind of lonely clown
Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down.
Funny but it seems I always wind up here with you
Nice to know somebody loves me
Funny but it seems that it's the only thing to do
Run and find the one who loves me.
There! Did you catch it!? That last verse. It’s in these melancholy moments that “I always wind up here with you.” That would be “with Christ.” “Nice to know somebody loves me.” That would be God. “Run and find the one who loves me.” That would be Jesus. At least, this is the way I processed the words on a melancholy Monday.
So what’s the point? The first point is: dare to pray for God to move you beyond the walls that inhibit your life. If the walls are never torn down between you and your ambitions, you will never advance in your career. If the walls are never torn down between you and your relationships, you will never have good friends. If the walls are not torn down between you and your inhibitions, you will never step out in faith so that God can use you to make an impact within your spheres of influence.
The second point is, don’t waste rainy days and melancholy Mondays. Allow them to drive you to the savior. It is in these moments that we are apt to drop our guard and allow God to comfort us. It’s in these moments that we do some of our most passionate praying. It is in the quite reflection of these moments that our minds and hearts are receptive to the Lord’s leading. So let him tear down the walls and lead you along life's way. Amen? Amen.
Just some melancholy thoughts, on a rainless Monday, from the heart and mind of Victor
