life stories: a song in my head

There are many people
who will say they're Christians
and they live like Christians on the Sabbath day

But come Monday morning, til the coming Sunday
They will fight their neighbor all along the way

{chorus}
Oh you don't love God, if you don't love your neighbor
if you gossip about him, if you never have mercy
if he gets into trouble, and you don't try to help him
then you don't love your neighbor, and you don't love God

In the Holy Bible, in the Book of Matthew
Read the 18th chapter in the 21st verse
Jesus plainly tells us that we must have mercy
There's a special warning in the 35th verse

Oh you don't love God, if you don't love your neighbor
if you gossip about him, if you never have mercy
if he gets into trouble, and you don't try to help him
then you don't love your neighbor, and you don't love God

There's a God almighty, and you've got to love him
if you want salvation and a home on high

If you say you love him while you hate your neighbor
then you don't have religion, you just told a lie

Oh you don't love God, if you don't love your neighbor
if you gossip about him, if you never have mercy
if he gets into trouble, and you don't try to help him
then you don't love your neighbor, and you don't love God

Oh you don't love God, if you don't love your neighbor
if you gossip about him, if you never have mercy
if he gets into trouble, and you don't try to help him
then you don't love your neighbor, and you don't love God

then you don't love your neighbor, and you don't love God

Lyrics of Rhonda Vincent's Oh, You Don't Love God if You Don't Love Your Neighbor. View a version on YouTube.

These days I carry this song with me as I walk my neighborhood. A neighborhood where there has been a great deal of violence and injustice over the years, while maintaining the charm of it's beginnings. I am among good people; some who live on the edge of existence. Some neighbors (I'll use this loosely here because I do not need to mean the house to my left or right, but my larger community) are on the edge of violence, of job security, of gas/electricity/water. Some neighbors have come and some have gone. The possible stories echo through my mind as this song courses through my head. After hearing a story on NPR related to memories that come through music, I began to connect the memory-making/importance of THIS song and THESE lyrics.

Today I began to realize that as I walk through my neighborhood, I can make my exercise not only a mission of health, but moreover a mission of prayer & peacekeeping for my neighbors. For the unknown, untold stories, I take a step for peace. Then I take another step for love, and yet another for joy. [Stop. Reach down for that piece of trash.] For the new faces that smile and say good morning or hello, I say hello, I love you, too. Sometimes a nod of the head, but good acknowledgement.

While I've been working on thoughts regarding motherhood and social justice, motherhood as a social justice issue, other ideas and thoughts are pouring through. And this blog entry relates. The connection is made in a new way in my mind. Small steps, but movement nonetheless. Some thoughts continue to percolate, as they do in my mind. Others are transferred into my new, happy system for receiving ideas and creative juices. While the motherhood + social justice article is still formulating, I record today's thoughts and connections.

Thus, I share with little of my life story as it happens. Rhonda Vincent, like many others, speak words of truth-telling in their music. Funny thing, as I'm actually wearing the earphones listening to other tunes & words, I find myself humming or singing THIS song as I travel the roads surrounding my home each morning. Speak to me, God. Speak in true tones. Speak to me God, words worthy of hearing. I have not always been a good neighbor. I'll admit that first. Yet, there are moments of grace and forgiveness and for this I am thankful.