Keep Singing

I often get my car washed at a local carwash. Instead of the high dollar pampering wash, I usually run it through the express which is the same carwash with less human attention.

At this particular wash-which I might add is excellent-I normally sitback and soak in the music or read some material and just let the wash take it's course. The very first time I was there, the guide cautioned against leaving the antenna on since the force of the water and cleaning aparatus could damage it.

Well, I'm not going to get out of my car just to remove the antenna so I leave it on...everytime. And everytime, I say "Please don't break. Stay intact just one more time." To this day it has and in looking back, I don't ever remember saying "Yay. Thank you for not breaking."

Every time, it's "please...just one more time" knowing that there will be another and another and another. Why do we do that? Wouldn't it be much easier to just remove it and take away all doubt, apprehension and concern?

I began this story three weeks ago and never finished it...today I know why. I woke up this morning with a heavy heart. Don't really know why except that I am teaching a pretty strong message and the enemy is trying to distract me. I walked out to my car with my wimpy spirit and guess what- my beautiful black vehicle that I just washed yesterday is covered with a yellow dust. Ugh! What more to dampen my spirit.

What more? I head out and then I was advised that a friend passed away this morning. "No More!" I cry out. "No More." I go wash my car and on my way I hear a song by Mercy Me.

Another rainy day, I can't recall having sunshine on my face
And all I feel is pain and all I want to do is walk out of this place
But when I am stuck and I can't move when I don't know what I should do
When I wonder if I'll ever make it through
I gotta keep singing, I gotta keep praising your name
Your're the only one that keeps my heart beating
I gotta keep singing, I gotta keep praising your name
That's the only way that I'll find healing
Can I climb upon your lap-Jesus sing over me........
I gotta keep singing

I drive up to the car wash but this time they remove my antenna and the attendant hands it to me as he sees my weepy eyes. He solemnly says "have a nice day." I examine the antenna and see that it is beaten and worn. The paint is chipped in places from all the pressure of the cleanings. As I look closer through tears, I see that the antenna is bent but it has not broken.

It has suffered many tests and trials and survived them all. We too will suffer trials. We will bend but we don't have to break. Just keep on singing, keep praising his name, climb upon his lap. I drove home and when I had heard the song enough; when I had prayed; when I felt God's peace come over me....I walked out and placed my antenna back in it's rightful place. It has survived the test of time. It may bend, but it didn't break and through it all, I will keep singing.

"I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble but take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33