Amen and Hallelujah

Let life give life. Let our appreciation for life be known by and to others. We are not made perfect but we can strive for perfection. It is the joy and hope of the struggle that makes us more human. So let us look at "Amen". Why do we say amen? Why do we think amen? And why do we act amen?

Feel free to correct me if I am wrong but my understanding is that now we also shall say "word". I got these hiking buddies since they were 5 years old. They are the sons of my hiking buddies since about 1988. Well one is my older son. So these young men in their twenties were listening to me go on about the beauty of a tree leaf, and yes I can go on about a tree leaf and it's wonders. And one said "word" and then all four said "word". And I came to understand that "word" is a hipster way to say "amen". So that is cool by me.

Somehow amen and word are affirmations of what someone has said. And it seems they both connote a presence of an ultimate higher power making the words right rather than the speaker.

So we say amen and word when someone has given us a truth. And mostly when that someone has given us a truth that is given him or her through some divine illumination.

In my era we did not say word, we said "right on brother or sister"

Did I tell you that I love you?

He is an independent contractor. Everyday he has to worry about getting paid. So when there is enough money to pay the bills he sings amen and hugs his wife and child. And by golly gotcha he sings amen.

Perhaps his burden is not as heavy and the woman with children walking the dirt road in Somalia. And so he also picks up a little something something for his homeless buddies hanging out down by the strip mall. And though worries of his own health and the needs of his family are a great burden but he still sings amen.

Whenever he feels the burden is too much. He does for others so that the "word" is spoken through him and he can sing that praise amen.

Personally I say it both ways. With a big A and with a small a. But I say it about 40 times a day in my head at least. For some reason to me it means that I have seen truth.

But you do not really care for that kind of music do you? And so we move on to Hallelujah.

We are not called to worship the same God. I wish it were so sometimes. But if that God that you worship is someone else's then we have issues. I am sorry but it must be a you thing. A higher power that you have a relationship with is God.

I would just love to tell you that a Hindu God is the only. I would be blessed to declare that a Catholic God was the one. And I would be so pleased if I could tell you that earth, wind and fire was a God just for you. Oh how nice it would be to tell that Buddha was the path to truth and God.

But that is not Hallelujah. Hallelujah is a direct praise to your God. Not mine. We push and we scream and we demand that our's is the one. And God laughs.

I am so certain that my God is "the" God. And it true but only for me.

Who are we to say hallelujah? I do not have an answer. But I can sing it. This writer says it often. To me it is a place and a space where man does more than man can do. It is an elevator ride to the 10th floor when there are only 7 floors. It is a fossil inside a 2 billion year old rock and it is the guitar player that lifts one million souls above where they are comfortable. It is a zone where man can visit but not create. It is a love so profound that words are useless in the knowing of the feelings.

Amen and hallelujah mean nothing if not said in love and adoration. A love and adoration for up and down and over there and all around.

"Who shall I say is calling?"

Then we say in all our struggles: "If it be your will" not mine and not hers but the creator and great lover of us. Just let it be your will oh God. Let me suffer and be in pain and discomfort and have trouble for it be your will.

You see my friends I have no burden great for I sing Amen and Hallelujah. And so my God reaches down and does His will. And that is good enough for me.

NO!! It does not mean I am a patsy or that I do not get up and work hard to make things better and it does not mean that I am a fatalist. It means by these two words I look and fashion a life of thanksgiving. And that is good.

Let us take today. The writer does not feel well. Do not know the cause. However the writer has a 4 year old son. And so therefor the writer cannot take a "day off". It just does not work that way. And so the writer says Amen and Hallelujah. He still has to go for walks and do laundry and it is Sunday so he must give spiritual instruction. And he must work some soil for the garden and he must read to his son and run around after him.

You see we are not given a pass at anytime. And so let words of encouragement move us to do good even when our load is just too heavy.

I do not have a choir to lead to sing to you but I can push you gently to a place of peace. And today I would love for you to rejoice and do thy will of your Lord. Perhaps you will find this following song meaningful to you and your Lord. Perhaps you could listen to it twice and sing along the second time. If it be your will!