Entertaining Angels

You never know how long you might have.
We can’t discern how long a friendship may last…or how much time we’ll have to spend with the ones we love…family, spouses.

As the flaming lips sang,

“do you realize…
that everyone you know, someday will die…
and instead of saying all of your goodbyes
let them know you realize that life goes fast
it’s hard to make the good things last…”

Lately, we’ve been covering a song by the Common Children called “Entertaining Angels”

the lyrics are a reflection of a day coming to an end…a desire to make time stand still for a moment in order to appreciate all that is happening around us…especially when we’re made aware of a stirring, an awakening to the grace that’s been given us at any particular minute or second of the day…you never know who you might be spending your time with.

My friend Gabe Wilson and his wife Elisa are moving to Oregon this week. Jon and I helped Gabe load up their belongings and said our goodbyes.

I first met Gabe at a retreat for artists held by Porter’s Call. I’d already admired the guy for his work with the “Rock-n-Roll Worship Circus” and ‘The Listening’…he and I met sometime later for lunch. We talked for about an hour, discussed the possibility of working together on a project, perhaps writing together. When we were leaving Gabe said something I’ll never forget, “hey man, let’s get together again, and it would be great to get to know you without you giving me the ‘press release’ version of your story.”

ouch.

that stung. but it was so true. I’d spent the hour spinning. editing. trying to impress. trying to be cool.
Here was a guy who saw through the crap, and was offering me a chance to be myself.

As the past couple of years have passed…I got that chance to write with Gabe. He also worked on some demos of new songs. During that time, I was able to be myself. To tell him my story. I remembered what it meant to have real communion, real fellowship with a fellow believer…a fellow pilgrim. To let down my guard every once and a while.

I thought about that as I carried lamps and boxes out of his now empty house into his trailer.

It’s not often that someone sees you being fake, and yet invites into a second chance to be real.

I guess I took it for granted that He and his wonderful wife would always be around here, in nashville…and I let a lot of opportunities for fellowship fall through the cracks.

I hope I can learn to treasure the precious opportunities I have for friendship in the future.

Until then, here’s to a couple of friends and their upcoming new addition to their family. May God’s grace keep you always.