“You can spend your whole life building, Something from nothin’
One storm can come and blow it all way, Build it anyway.
“You can chase a dream that seems so out of reach,
And you know it might not ever come your way, Dream it anyway.
(Chorus) “God is great, but sometimes life isn’t good
When I pray it doesn’t always turn out like I think it should, But I do it anyway”

It’s a strange thing to hear the gospel when we don’t expect it. And it’s encouraging. Such was the case this afternoon. A song came on the radio when I was driving to the church. It was Martina McBride singing her song “Anyway.” It caught my attention. Her song continues.

“This world’s gone crazy and it’s hard to believe
That tomorrow will be better than today, Believe it anyway.
“You can love someone with all your heart, For all the right reasons
In a moment they can choose to walk away, Love ’em anyway.
(Chorus) “God is great, but sometimes life ain’t good
When I pray it doesn’t always turn out like I think it should, But I do it anyway.”

Disappointments are a part of life. Hurts come. There are no guarantees. But to live a li with fear and bitterness and anger is spiritual death. And so action seems to matter more than results. Doing the right thing seems to mean more than the reward. Hope is more life-giving than cynicism.

And I can imagine Jesus singing the song: build, dream, pray, believe, love. In a world that can sometimes seem overwhelming, it is a song of defiant hope in God. It’s a song for God’s “Easter People.

Listening for the Gospel,

Glenn