Safe in a Song

Early this morning I received a message from a friend of mine wishing me a happy new year.  It was very early (around 3:30 am) when the message came through, and when he realized that, he quickly apologized. He was messaging me from Switzerland, and hadn't considered the time change correctly when he had sent it.  When I responded, I explained that I was up to help with my son's paper route. His reply was, "I hope you are delivering good news then.." So after delivering the papers this morning, I sat down to check.  The first headline for 2016 is: "Get a closer look at church."  This inaugural headline of the year was announcing the launch of a website (bookofmormoncentral.org) compiling Book of Mormon research into a central location where it could be easily searched. Awesome! Good news! I admit, I had expected otherwise. The site looks great too! I fully expect it to be a great resource to members and nonmembers alike in the coming months and years.    

As I thumbed through the rest of the paper encouraged by its face, I found a report of the arrest of Bill Cosby.  This whole saga had a very different feel.  It has been both sickening and saddening in my opinion. As I headed back to bed to catch some more sleep - this wasn't the story I wanted running in my head. As I lay down, I noticed gratefully that my emergency channel had been automatically triggered.  The idea of an emergency channel had come from President Packer who years ago suggested that thoughts flowing into places they shouldn't could be successfully recaptured by humming, singing, or thinking of a favorite hymn. My old standby has been, "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" for years.  This time, though, a different song was playing. "Love One Another," was the tune that enlightening my thoughts. As I thought about those beautiful words, the message was perfect! In a world full of misconceptions and evil ideas about the nature of love, there is a flawless example - "As I have loved you."  I couldn't help but think of the youth in my home and classroom who are constantly bombarded with evil sensual and false messages about love.  In this simple children's song is the powerful answer. His love is love. Paul counsels the Saints in Ephesus to put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6) including girding their loins with truth - with truth. The loins, representing chastity, are protected by the truth. No wonder there is so much confusion and misinformation about it in society today.  The battle is definitely on.  The truth about love is that Christ has shown us THE example. That means that any "love" song or media depiction which doesn't describe a Christlike love - is selling a counterfeit - a so called "love" that is selfishly sensual or promiscuously poisonous will never do. Jesus loves us in a selfless, devoted, compassionate, forgiving, and lasting way.  A love stronger than the very cords of death! I am so grateful for the power of the simple and beautiful truth of this hymn.  For me it has become the fight song for girding loins - a refuge of power in a world filled with smoke, mirrors, and deceptions about love.