“Often wise sayings fall on barren ground; but a kind word is never ever thrown away.” Sir Arthur Helps
There are so many things to grasp. Our own recovery practically insists we grab vital truths. When we latch on them, we must stick to them no matter what. When we lose someone, or even lose ourselves, we must listen so much closer– the Lord will send someone to our side.
Some rules though:
Curiosity is not ever the same as caring.
Losing ones balance is never the same as losing ones testimony.
A gentle touch can mean more than a powerful revelation.
Words of kindness are better than cold truth.
To really hear is better than a speech of true words.
We must live out the questions we whisper to God
Practising prayer is better than just simply praying.
Similar experiences that emphasize a connection is never the same as the individuals.
Our questions to God reveal far more than His answers.
When we do decide to dance, our true friends will dance too.
Ok, I must admit these are not always true and concrete in my heart. My life seems to be a cavern of emptiness; there is little inside but a silly reputation. But it’s a blanket that can’t warm my chilly heart.
12 “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.”
Colossians 3:12-14, NLT
“Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.”
Galatians 6:2
“It is a sin to belittle one’s neighbor; blessed are those who help the poor.”
There are only a handful of his songs that I don’t like. Of course, I love all the gospel music he recorded. But I also love everything from Cry, Cry, Cry to Cocaine to T for Texas to Hung My Head to his rendition of Nine Inch Nails’ Hurt and Depeche Mode’s Personal Jesus. His music covers the whole spectrum of real human existence. Many of his songs bring tears to my eyes every time I hear them.
But as great as his music is, the reason I love Johnny Cash has just as much to do with his life and his witness to the grace and redemptive power of Christ. I have read two of his biographies and several essays about him in a book of collected essays. I also have a graphic novel about his life that I recently purchased (though I haven’t read it yet), and have read the introduction to his novel The Man in White. He lived a fascinating and tumultuous life.
For anyone interested in the life of a legend who is nonetheless an incredibly “real” person with struggles and trials just like the rest of us, I recommend The Man Called Cash: The Life, Love, and Faith of an American Legend by Steve Turner. This book is a meticulously researched and well-written account from which even those who knew Johnny well would likely learn something about him that they didn’t know before. Starting almost at the end, with the death of June Carter, and then winding his way through the early years, the middle years, and everything in between, Turner reveals a man who knew God as only a sinner can.
This book includes two awesome sections of black and white photos from Johnny’s life, as well as the unedited text of an interview Turner conducted with Johnny in 1988, a chronology of June and Johnny’s lives, a complete discography, and an index. But these are all just icing on the cake of a story that will bring tears to your eyes and a smile to your heart.
One of my favorite stories of redemption is about the time Johnny crawled into Nickajack Cave, thirty miles from Chattanooga, with the plan to never come out.
He believed that if he crawled in far enough, he’d be unable to find his way out. When he starved to death it would look like a tragic accident.”
In 1995 he [Johnny] told the writer Nick Tosches:
“It just felt like I was at the end of the line. I was down there by myself and I got to feelin’ that I’d taken so many pills that I’d done it, that I was gonna blow up or something. I hadn’t eaten in days, I hadn’t slept in days, and my mind wasn’t workin’ too good anyway. I couldn’t stand myself anymore. I wanted to get away from me. And if that meant dyin’, then okay, I’m ready. I just had to get away from myself. I couldn’t stand it anymore, and I didn’t think there was any other way. I took a flashlight with me, and I said, I’m goin’ to walk and crawl and climb into this cave until the light goes out, and then I’m gonna lie down. So I crawled in there with that flashlight until it burned out and I lay down to die. I was a mile in that cave. At least a mile. But I felt this great comfortin’ presence sayin’, “No, you’re not dyin’.” I got things for you to do. So I got up, found my way out. Cliffs, ledges, drop-offs. I don’t know how I got out, ‘cept God got me out.
Turner, pg. 119.
And God did have things for Johnny to do. He had to show the world how even someone as strung out on drugs as he was could be redeemed by the grace of God. He had to show that despite our faults and weaknesses – or maybe because of them – God loves each and every one of us. He may have been a music legend, but he was never afraid to use his talent to glorify God and to share the gospel. His was a life of redemption and grace well worth reading about. If you think your life isn’t worth living or that God can’t possibly love you or redeem you, read about the life of one who was chief among sinners but who was saved by grace.
As a bonus to go along with this book review of his biography I want to share this video of the song “Singer of Songs” by Johnny Cash. It is a great synopsis of the purpose God had for his life and how he fulfilled it. He truly was a singer of songs about life, love, death, birth, God, and more. I suspect he’s still singing today at the throne of the King.
“Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!”
Job 26:14
The infinite, immenseness of God as Job describes; makes even a whisper of Him often more than we can bear. He cannot be measured. He is beyond massive. We simply do not have the capability.
Lord, please ready us to receive deeper and deeper revelations of You. And here’s a simple poem . . .
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“Your Slightest Touch”– A Poem from the Heart
Source – brilliancemastery.com
Your whisper fills the valleys overflows the mountains and pours out on the plains.
At Your glorious glance high places crumble, seas dry and clouds roll back their rain.
Your slightest touch levels me breaks open my heart and my soul alive to all You proclaim.
88
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“Can you discover the depths of God? Can you discover the limits of the Almighty?
Job 11:7
“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.”
With a little bit of forethought, we can create an atmosphere where love, and all that follows it will flourish. We predetermine all that goes into “love” and makes an impact on all those around us, who savor and appreciate its presence. This you might say, makes us authentic believers–but it’s joy, and most certainly not a burden! We were born to love others!
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
“What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.” Augustine
^
ybic, Bryan
kyrie elesion.
P.S. I’m thinking of getting a tattoo on my left shoulder, “Born to Love Others”. (Think it will help?)
