Back to School / Goals / "Come Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy"

The first day back at Belmont was a good one, albeit quite busy! Classes went well, with two even being canceled, and I really enjoyed seeing all my friends again. There's a lot of work to do to finish out this semester, but to my pleasant surprise, I find that I feel very driven to work hard and accomplish everything I'm striving to do.

Between reunions, classes, homework, errands, and even a vocal ensemble audition, I found time to do some reading. I'm nearing the end of Donald Miller's "Searching For God Knows What," and I have to say that this book is extremely helpful and applicable in my life. I'm very thankful that my recently increased searches into Scripture are pairing so well with the words of Miller, O'Connor, and my other favorite authors.

Lately I've had some realizations about myself, with the help of my friends and my reading. First off, I'm something of a dreamer -- I have a great imagination and the gift of creativity, but it's all too easy for me to get lost with my head in the clouds, daydreaming myself into unrealistic expectations and distracting me from what's really going on. Partially because of this over-thinking trait, I sometimes find myself either dreading the worst or building up too-high hopes when I ought to be living in the present and not being concerned with what might happen.

It can be hard to "take it easy" when I race ahead to conclusions and try to hasten my pace to keep up, but another thing I've started to learn is that fulfillment and satisfaction aren't the sort of things we can claim for ourselves out of effort. On the contrary, it seems that the harder we work to accomplish our self-minded goals and secure our value, the less fulfilled we feel. I know this is true in my life.

(For the record, there are good goals, and I absolutely believe that academic responsibility and success is something for which we ought to travail. Just making it clear that this isn't what I'm talking about when I speak of "self-minded goals".)

Our satisfaction should come from serving God and serving those around us, not by making ourselves feel more accomplished and worthy. I need a heart of Love and Compassion, not of selfish insecurity (because what could be more selfish than constantly worrying over yourself?) or boastful pride.

I pray that we would all feel the Love of Christ, which is all we need. I'm reminded of a hymn (again, one performed beautifully by the band Anathallo on their Hymns album) called "Come Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy". It seems fitting to end this entry with the lyrics to this beautiful song.

1. Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
   Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
   Jesus ready stands to save you,
   Full of pity, love and pow’r.
   • Refrain:
     I will arise and go to Jesus,
     He will embrace me in His arms;
     In the arms of my dear Savior,
     Oh, there are ten thousand charms.
2. Come, ye thirsty, come, and welcome,
   God’s free bounty glorify;
   True belief and true repentance,
   Every grace that brings you nigh.
3. Come, ye weary, heavy-laden,
   Lost and ruined by the fall;
   If you tarry till you’re better,
   You will never come at all.
4. View Him prostrate in the garden;
   On the ground your Maker lies;
   On the bloody tree behold Him;
   Sinner, will this not suffice?
5. Lo! th’ incarnate God ascended,
   Pleads the merit of His blood:
   Venture on Him, venture wholly,
   Let no other trust intrude.
6. Let not conscience make you linger,
   Not of fitness fondly dream;
   All the fitness He requireth
   Is to feel your need of Him.

Amen. All we need is Him.