Marvin Gaye and Theology

This morning in church the pastor was weaving in and out of scriptures. At one point in particular he was talking about the life of Paul and the trials he endured. The pastor went on to parallel the life of Paul while still Saul and then his life reborn. Both radically lived. How can one man do such a complete 180? From desecrating all that glorified Jesus to extreme physical and life style sacrifice in order for Glory to be revealed. Well, the pastor said it was because once you've found the real thing, there is nothing that can replace it.

"Ain't nothing like the real thing baby.... Ain't nothing like the real thing."

Marvin Gaye's words of past experiences started playing in my mind... What can I say, I am my father's daughter, I can't help it.

But emotionally warring, it didn't stop there. The song continued as it usually does for me...

"I see your picture hanging on the wall but it don't seem to come to me when I call your name and I realize it's just a picture in a frame"

And then I saw the sweet faces that covered my fridge on 4x6's and I felt a smile grow on my face. A smile rich in feelings for the thought warmed my heart as much as it brought it sorrow. It brought light to my blessings yet sharply reminded me of this newfound distance. Planting my focus on those three blondies, that boy with freckles, the one we call Little,  and the cutie with the fro, I felt what Mr. Gaye must have been feeling when he wrote those words. There is, in fact, nothing quite like the real thing. No one will ever take the spot in my heart that is reserved for those dearly beloveds. Shoot, no one is even going to come close. But that's okay because I have tasted the real thing. I know exactly what it is, and I know it's worth the fight of keeping it alive. When I call their name, they may not come to me from the pictures, but unlike Marvin, I can just as quickly pick up my cell phone and give them a call. Or listen to the messages that they've left me. Or watch videos of them posted on face book. Or skype with them. So, we'll be just fine.

But you know what it brought me back to? This distance between me and my nieces and nephews has just been created and, as a result, has changed our relationship. But hallelujah, moving provides no altercation in my relationship with the Lord. Distance has no power over Him. California is not something new to Him. This place of unfamiliarity has not left me without Him nor does He consider it unfamiliar. In fact, He has lead me here and even still, continues to hold me...To talk to me during church sermons through means that pluck at my hearts chords (70s pop songs).

I can tell that Satan keeps trying to sneak in and prod my heart and taint my thoughts while I'm not looking but every time the Lord wins me over with His love letters. Some days I'll be home by myself and start to get sad when I hear the CD change to another song such as Church Clap and I begin to laugh out loud as I picture my friend Marsha dancing next to Madea and her pals. Or I'll be thinking about dinner and wishing that I could have another one spent with my family at our table on Barnsley Walk, so I pick up a book for a distraction when all of the sudden, the story takes me to a familiar place on Quinbery drive in 1994 as my older sister, Amy, sends Emily and me off to bed with one of her extravagant tales much like the one found in this book. Satan may try but He will prevail and remain victorious... for He is the real thing!

The way I see it is, I can either be sad for the things I do have or grateful for the memories I carry. In one is defeat, the other, victory!