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Gather 'Round Ye Children Come

 


Gather 'round, ye children come!

This year, I feel a special longing as we approach the BTLOG event together. I can't quite put my finger on what it is. Vaguely, I think it is mostly a longing to be drawn more deeply into the story, and to connect more intimately with you with whom we will share these moments together. What's the longing you have as we approach our time together this year?
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Gather 'round ye children come, listen to the old, old story
Of the pow'r of death undone, by an infant born of glory
Son of God, Son of Man

Soon, we'll be gathering together. We will descend upon Nashville to reunite and share an evening of listening to wonderful music. Trough this we will be drawn into a remembering of the old, old story. But, it won't just be remembering something of the past. The old, old story, I am persuaded, will be drawn into our present. And this experience will not be limited to the night of the performance. We will be experiencing something of the story come alive through our shared presence among one another. 

It's not lost on me that the occasion of this yearly gathering is in part related to how our own family story has unfolded in this life. For us, it's a an unfolding story of seeking healing, hope, and beauty amid pain, loss, and chaos. 

As we've gathered each year, the old, old story has entered in to the present as the humble Christ has come near to us in a special way in the particulars of our gathering with one another: in the humble times of shared meals, walking around shops and coffeeshops in Franklin, sitting around and talking in our AirBnB rental living rooms, figuring out where we want to go for breakfast or lunch, and the tender moments of hugs and shared presence. How has the old, old story of Christ among us been made real for you in our shared time together?
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Gather 'round remember now, how creation held its breath
How it let out a sigh and filled up the sky with the angels
Son of God, Son of Man

As I reflect, I'm reminded of the God who still creates. We're three years into this journey together, and each year is not the same as the previous one. Last year was acutely difficult, unexpectedly. This year may be different. The experience has yet to be created; the Spirit is hovering over the waters in anticipation of life. 

This year, all of us are older. Some of us wiser. All of us a bit further into the mystery of God's new creation unfolding in us, even as our bodies are experiencing the decay of old creation. 

As I look back and look ahead, I'm moved by the ongoing creation of love that has been formed through our shared moments. Over the course of these three years, a love, a fellowship -- new life -- has been created by the Spirit who has drawn us to one another. Your lives have been the materials out of which light has been created in darkness, form and beauty brought forth from the void. We return home each year living out of that newness. What beauty is created anew from our time each year for you?
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Sing out with joy for the brave little boy who was God but he made himself nothing;
So rejoice you children sing, and remember now his mercy.

Perhaps this is the longing I have: that we might be blessed and renewed by the shared experience of singing out with joy for the one who humbled himself for us; that we might experience in one another the love of the God who longs to be with us; that we might grow more in his likeness by being around one another; that the mercy and closeness of the Triune God would flow through our lives into one another, and through that hope might be born again in our hearts. May we sing out with joy through our love and shared moments with one another. 

I look forward to seeing your faces, beloved friends. I look forward to it every year and the days between.

Kyle (and probably Laura too if she knew I was writing this) 😉

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