With Grace in Your Heart and Flowers in your Hair | Religious Reflections 05

I was driving the other day with my iPhone on shuffle, when I had a moment that profoundly touched me. I don't know what it is about driving--especially longer distances--but it seems to be a time when I'm particularly prone to deep thought and receptive to inspiration. I suppose it's the monotony of the task before me. Of course I must be alert, but I can easily fall into a rhythm and I'm forced to sit still long enough to think about something other than the next thing that I need to do. Klair likes it too. Well, not driving of course, but she enjoys going on car rides. In fact, that girl loves getting out of the house in general. If a day goes by where we haven't left the house, she'll start telling me "I'm ready to gooo!" repeatedly. I suppose she's like her mama in that regard. We both love to go--even if the going is simply to the park or grocery store. We really enjoy venturing to new places. A change of scenery is always welcome. Hereditary wanderlust perhaps?

...and with that my mind has wandered off track. Back to the story. So, I was driving a fair distance, the music entering my ears determined by a randomizing algorithm programmed into my phone, when a song called "After the Storm" by Mumford and Sons came on. Sam and I both really love this band. We have for awhile now. We've collected all of their music over the years and thoroughly enjoy it. I have heard this particular song plenty of times before and I've always liked it. I could even sing along to some of the lyrics from memory. I don't know if it was the longer-than-usual-drive, or the brilliance of the setting sun and the golden light it cast that made me especially reflective, but this time I actually listened.

And, what I heard, spoke to my soul and brought tears to my eyes. Yep, I even cried a little.
It was exactly what I needed to hear.

"And there will come a time, you'll see. With no more tears. 

And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears. 

Get over your hill and see what you find there, 

With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair."

Beautiful, profound truth.

I won't bombard you with all of the lyrics--look them up or listen to the song if you feel so inclined--but essentially the verses reveal struggle, pain, and fear while the chorus (shown above) resolves these. It encapsulates the essence of the atonement of Jesus Christ, and the hope His gospel brings. Christ resolves our burdens. His grace is sufficient to cover all our pain, to redeem and to justify. I love the imagery of these lyrics, and I believe them with all my heart. One day, with our Savior's unfailing assistance, we will reach the peak of our own personal mountain. And, when we do, what we find will bring us to our knees in awe and admiration. 

"There will come a time, you''ll see."