zugito

Never underestimate the power of Jesus to speak via the iTunes shuffle algorythm

Posted by bryanzug - 2011/07/07

Here are a few of the best questions adrift in my head
Who’s driving this airplane? Did I live hard enough?
Is it gonna rain? How well have I loved?
How well have I loved?

…

Let’s walk through the jungle, put your arm in my arm
Should this ground start to crumble, we’ll come to no harm
Lean on me if you stumble, ‘neath the bright shining stars
and though the whole world may crumble, we know who we are
we know who we are

Questions by Mike Scott (of The Waterboys)

Roo & Tug —

It’s been a rough couple of months.

Jesus is teaching me to believe the best of the beautiful people around me, especially when we disagree on substantial important things.

He’s teaching me those ancient odd rhythms of being humble while not hiding from conflict — reminding me of who I am even when I am filled with doubt.

He is giving me the encouragement I need to dive deep even when it is very very hard and there is no guarantee that there will be short term happy endings all around.

And while that all sounds “worth it” in theory, I’ve found myself doubting whether this deep desire of mine to walk as a “poet + warrior + magician” is more than I can handle — whether this dream of mine to live a life alchemized of passion and grace is more pipe dream than possibility.

I wonder whether it is just a mirage that will annoy me until all the bent things are made straight in some far off age to come.

And just when I am about to get swallowed up in my doubt, Jesus shows up in the strangest of places — reminding me that these things are no illusion.

Just the other day He showed up in an iTunes algorithm when this song “Questions” by Mike Scott (of the Waterboys) shuffled into my ears.

I was heads down, cranking out the work, when all of a sudden I heard Scott’s familiar voice belt out…

“Here are a few of the best questions adrift in my head… Who’s driving this airplane? Did I live hard enough? Is it gonna rain? How well have I loved? How well have I loved?”

And then he followed it up with this ringer…

“Though the whole world may crumble, we know who we are, we know who we are”

Exactly the reminder I needed of a few important things…

1) These checksums of the self are very important inquiries.

Am I living as the best version of myself that Jesus has enabled me to be?

Am I at peace enough to risk?

Am I loving enough that the world around me gets a hint of the thankfulness that inhabits my heart?

2) A joy that trumps circumstances is real.

There is a peace that supersedes any scene I find myself in. Something beyond an identity of the moment, a transcendent unshakeable name that enables great wide living in this life.

3) That anytime I begin to doubt any of this, Jesus shows up.

He drops into the scene to remind me that there is a great deep immersive safety in this wild ride we are on.

My great hope for you both is that you would deeply explore these things on your own when the opportunity presents itself.

Much love —

Daddio

Questions by Mike Scott (of The Waterboys)
Written in London, May 1996, and appears on the album “Still Burning”

Who’s the man with the potion
dressed in velvet and gloves
causing grief and commotion
talking ’bout love?
What on earth is he thinking?
Where on earth has he been?
Why do I feel like I’m sinking?
What does it mean?

Let’s walk through the jungle
Put your arm in my arm
and should this ground start to crumble
we’ll come to no harm

I once had a coat I was proud of
I wore that coat a long time
Just when the music got loudest
I left it behind
I could pretend that I’m dreaming
but one thing I just can’t see
Who on earth am I meaning
when I say me?

Let’s walk through the jungle
Put your arm in my arm
and should this ground start to crumble
we’ll come to no harm

What’s around the corner?
What’s around the bend?
What’s around the corner?
What’s around the bend?

Questions upon question upon questions
crowding round the side of my bed
Here are just a few of the best ones
adrift in my head
Who’s driving this airplane?
Did I live hard enough?
Is it gonna rain
and how well have I loved?
How well have I loved?

Let’s walk through the jungle
Put your arm in my arm
and should this ground start to crumble
we’ll come to no harm
Lean on me if you stumble
‘neath the bright shining stars
and though the whole world may crumble
we know who we are
we know who we are

St. Paul (Hewson aka Bono) on the difference between grace and karma

Posted by bryanzug - 2011/07/06

Roo & Tug —

One of my favorite missionaries of all time is a fellow named Paul Hewson. When he was a kid, his friend Guggi gave him the nickname Bono. That’s what most folks call him these days.

He and I share a deep affection for a faith of Mere Christianity that plays itself out in the narrative of the public square. We identify with a circle of friends like G.K. Chesterton, C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, Mother Teresa, and MLK.

One of my favorite riffs of his concerns how the natural way of the world around us is completely upended by Jesus — how the reap what you sow rule of the universe known as Karma is completely turned on its head by the Grace of Jesus.

I’ve pasted the full quote below.

I especially like the part where he describes how love interrupts this natural devolution of things.

That’s pretty cool.

Much love —

Daddio

Excerpt from the book “Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas“

Bono: …the thing that keeps me on my knees is the difference between Grace and Karma.

Assayas: I haven’t heard you talk about that.

Bono: I really believe we’ve moved out of the realm of Karma into one of Grace…

You see, at the center of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, or in physics–in physical laws–every action is met by an equal or an opposite one.

It’s clear to me that Karma is at the very heart of the universe. I’m absolutely sure of it.

And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that “as you reap, you will sow” stuff.

Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I’ve done a lot of stupid stuff.

Assayas: I’d be interested to hear that.

Bono: That’s between me and God. But I’d be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge. I’d be in deep shit.

It doesn’t excuse my mistakes, but I’m holding out for Grace.

I’m holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don’t have to depend on my own religiosity.

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