The reason I sing*

The ball wobbled on the rim then rolled down into the net, SCORE!
Immediately the quiet erupted into a screaming WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, feet stomping the bleachers, and claps so hard and long that your hands hurt.

And that was just me.

I can't tell you when I was last so exhilarated. We stole the ball, they stole the ball, we fouled, they fouled, baskets were made and sweat was dripping.
And we still lost. We did get 36 points though.

And coming home, my mind turned to worship.

I have no idea how loud other people cheered on my side, cause all I could hear was my loud WHOOP, and the crash of my feet rumbling on the bleachers.

And while I vaguely know there were some folks that simply watched the ball sink into the net, or watched our team snatch the ball from the other side - I didn't care too much. I saw my team get possession of the ball and started yelling for them.

I've complained before about how frustrated I am that I get distracted by other worshippers when I'm trying to worship God, if I notice that they're not worshipping, or seem passionless concerning what they're saying. And I wondered about the difference between my cheers for the Gainesville Tornadoes and Christ my Lord.

My sins are washed away??? WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO THANK YOU!
What a friend I have in Jesus? YES!!!!!!!!!!!
Some glad morning we shall see Jesus in the air? ALRIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO COME ON!

My joy, and my reaction should have nothing to do with whether the rest of the fans are cheering or not.

I remember seeing a clip of someone talking about flying on an airplane and the many complaints about delays and security and what not. He said that everyone on every plane should fly gripping the arm rests and screaming "OH MY GOD!" "I'm in a CHAIR, in the SKY!"

Obviously, people don't do that. We've lost our sense of wonder. We've lost our sense of amazement. We expect salvation. We're told from day one, all around us, that we'll receive it. Maybe we need to have a good, decent reminder that it's simply grace - pure grace. That we're sinful, scuzzy, dirty, rotten. BUT GOD.

Maybe we've lost sight of how awesome what God has offered us is? Maybe we forget that if He hadn't of drawn us,.... if He hadn't have looked down on US and chosen US, we could be forever condemned to be without His presence, here on earth and eternally. We're nothing special, He made us special. We're poor. He wants to give us riches. We're diseased with sin. He wants to cleanse us, and adopt us as His own kids. We're broken and bruised. He wants to heal us.

Do you remember that, when you walk into your church building? Do you remember that when you speak to someone so obviously lost? Do you remember that when you pray?

I'm not talking about forever dragging your head before God and man, unworthy and broken.
I'm talking about forever raising your hands in absolute, and profound gratitude, humbled and broken and restored.

Let my heart never forget to cheer, with wonder and passion for the wild and wonderful, powerful and loving God that chose me. And in that choosing, gave me new life.
LIFE
MIRACLES
PEACE
HOPE
JOY
LOVE
WISDOM
MERCY
DIRECTION
SHELTER
GRACE
PROVISION
VICTORY
A CERTAIN END.
LIFE.
LIFE EVERLASTING.

Amazing.

*Post title comes from a song of the same title. Lyrics are here.