when i was in college - i attended this broadcasting convention as part of a class... i met a guy who was an album representative from a new upstart label, Gotee Records (current record label of the band Relient K). he gave me a sample disc... featuring songs from some of their debut artists. one of those artists was a band called Johnny Q. Public.i really liked their sound... so when their debut album dropped later that summer - i snagged it with the quickness. it was (is) a great album titled Extra*Ordinary. In the liner notes, following a reprint of all lyrics and a slew of 'thank-you's', there was this final comment:
dig. be dug. and above all, peace on your head.
What does that mean?
such an obscure phrase... but i think it speaks volumes...
first of all: DIG.
Main Entry: 1dig
Pronunciation: 'dig Function: verb Inflected Form(s): dug /'d&g/; dig·ging Etymology: Middle English diggen transitive verb 1 a : to break up, turn, or loosen (as earth) with an implement b : to prepare the soil of <dig a garden> 2 a : to bring to the surface by digging : UNEARTH <dig potatoes> b : to bring to light or out of hiding <dig up facts> 3 : to hollow out or form by removing earth : EXCAVATE <dig a hole> 4 : to drive down so as to penetrate : THRUST 5 : POKE, PROD 6 a : to pay attention to : NOTICE <dig that fancy hat> b : UNDERSTAND, APPRECIATE Dig means many things.
Spiritually speaking - we've gotta dig deep... deep within our soul - searching for the only thing that can fill tha
t void in us... that God-shaped hole... that emptiness can only be fulfilled by God.[painting by Eric Samuel Timm no1underground]
secondly: BE DUG.
"be dug." not exactly something you shout out to your friends when leaving their presence. not even proper spoken English. but what does it mean to 'be dug'? maybe it means allowing yourself to be vulnerable and exposed... to be real and honest before God... hiding nothing from the one who knows what is truly inside of us anyway...
Psalm 139:23-24 sez it like this...
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Be dug... maybe it also challenges us to be real with ourselves and with others. there is no room for fake plastic 'Christians' in the body of Christ. the Gospel of Jesus is truth & love & salvation. that Gospel, that good news, can not be gift wrapped and morphed into something less than real, honest, gut-wrenching truth. a sugar-coated gospel appeals to the short term craving of something that in the end will rot your soul. it does not satisfy.
be dug is to practice humility [the quality or state of being humble] before our God and all mankind.
be dug. be vulnerable. be real. allow God to search every part of you... then breathe deep the God of life.
This is what God the LORD says— he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it...
Isaiah 42
[read more.]
[painting by Eric Samuel Timm no1underground]
finally: Peace on your head.
peace. a word eternally connected to its counterpart word... war. and yet our society reflects what is going on inside of each of us... a battle raging... the struggle to find peace and happiness... to get rid of the things that rage inside of us, tearing us apart, destroying us... our sins, struggles, temptations, memories, questions, confusion, regrets, etc... all are at war within...
only one can provide peace...God is in control. God makes his people strong. God gives his people peace. [more]
may the peace of Christ go with you. may it descend upon you like a dove. Through our digging and our being dug - may we find peace and may it rest upon our heads... [more. and more still.]
final thoughts:
lyrics from the alternative Christian band of the ages:
[band] The Prayer Chain [song] Dig Dug
It comes creepin...
Can you hear me?
Do you even know me?
I'm just like the rest
Need to stick my finger in your wrist
Dig in deep...
Can you hear my heart beat?
Do you even know my heart?
When i hold the doubts of Thomas
As hard as i hold your promise?
Dig in deep
and bury me
Let it grow
2 comments:
Tim,
Hey man, great post. Sometimes we fear that kind of vulnerability with God and others. Good stuff.
Eli
Hey Tim,
I hope formal night goes well. Did you find a date yet? Have fun with the survey. Let me know how it goes.
BK
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