Consider words that start with the letters re:
restore
recycle
refurbish
redefine
If you look up the prefix re on dictionary.com, you’ll find the meaning is: again and again.
Interesting. I live in a refurbished house. I like to recycle. I could go on, but will not for the sake I’d most likely bore you.
Yesterday, my daughter and I were in Hobby Lobby. Hobby Lobby plays instrumental music over their loudspeakers while people shop. It’s easy listening, mainly Christian pop and praise songs orchestrated in a way that I suppose the Hobby Lobby corporate rep in charge of store music believes appeals to the average Hobby Lobby shopper. It doesn’t bother me one way or the other, because I don’t go there for the music.
Anyway, reflecting [another re word!] back to yesterday, this morning I thought of one of my favorite, old choruses from my college era, “Create in Me a Clean Heart” [remember Keith Green?]
Here are a couple lines of the song:
restore unto me the joy of thy salvation and renew a right spirit within me
It’s compelling to me that I recycle our trash, almost to the point of feeling guilty if I throw a plastic container in the regular trash can. Yet I rarely consider refurbishing myself. In other words, taking what I am and renewing myself into something useful. I’m constantly looking for a change, but rarely am I looking for a readjustment. I know who and what I am, but sometimes I need to be reminded. I don’t need to learn a whole new lesson; I’m old enough to know the complete story.
I need restoration; most likely we all do. I guess the gist of it is, all of the re words, when related to self, take discipline and work. Waking up one day and being completely different doesn’t. But living in a process, walking a road, takes a self commitment. Our house, built in 1910, wasn’t restored overnight. It took a plan and it took work. It was a step by step undertaking. And it continually needs care.
Instead of striving for a new day, a new relationship, a new me……maybe I need to focus on redemption.
Psalm 51:10-12
English Standard Version (ESV)
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
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Thank you. No, I’m not getting paid, although it would be great!