Hang On!
The first time I heard
this phrase from a piano student searching for the next note, my mind
did somersaults accompanied with quiet ‘inside’ laughter. What
should I ‘hang on’ to? There were no instructions with this command,
just a terse, “Hang on!” In suspended animation I searched the
room to see what I could hang on to. The piano, the music book
filled with Treble and Bass Clefs? The file cabinet with neatly
filed music? Nothing seemed to lend itself to follow through the
“Hang On!” command. Chuckling then, and continuing to wonder at
this quaint request to wait a minute before resuming playing. I
tried to teach the ongoing-ness of music by singing “Jesus Loves
Me” with ‘hang on’ moments creating a melody that ricocheted from
measure to measure. This didn’t seen to halt the utterance of this
phrase.
this phrase from a piano student searching for the next note, my mind
did somersaults accompanied with quiet ‘inside’ laughter. What
should I ‘hang on’ to? There were no instructions with this command,
just a terse, “Hang on!” In suspended animation I searched the
room to see what I could hang on to. The piano, the music book
filled with Treble and Bass Clefs? The file cabinet with neatly
filed music? Nothing seemed to lend itself to follow through the
“Hang On!” command. Chuckling then, and continuing to wonder at
this quaint request to wait a minute before resuming playing. I
tried to teach the ongoing-ness of music by singing “Jesus Loves
Me” with ‘hang on’ moments creating a melody that ricocheted from
measure to measure. This didn’t seen to halt the utterance of this
phrase.
One day I heard this
idiom and thought seriously about the meaning of ‘hang on’. We all
have this innate desire to ‘hang on’ from the moment we are born. We
cling to our Mother and Father for the first needs we have – with
cries to communicate needs. Soon the circle of need grows beyond the
family and friends, and centers on those beloved grandparents who
cater to our every desire. We want the world to stop until we have
what we need or think we want for our comfort and validation.
idiom and thought seriously about the meaning of ‘hang on’. We all
have this innate desire to ‘hang on’ from the moment we are born. We
cling to our Mother and Father for the first needs we have – with
cries to communicate needs. Soon the circle of need grows beyond the
family and friends, and centers on those beloved grandparents who
cater to our every desire. We want the world to stop until we have
what we need or think we want for our comfort and validation.
From our need to ‘hold
on’ we learn to weigh and prioritize what is deemed to be ‘hang on’
material. Whether it is a desired thing or a request for someone’s
time, it is not an easy thing to turn away from. “Hang on” is a
plea to wait.
on’ we learn to weigh and prioritize what is deemed to be ‘hang on’
material. Whether it is a desired thing or a request for someone’s
time, it is not an easy thing to turn away from. “Hang on” is a
plea to wait.
Evidently that wait is an
exercise in patience for the hearer, or wait-ee. Our Creator created
us for ‘holding on’ as our arms grasp and ‘hang on’. He made our
minds to search for what to hold on to – an idea, a principle, an
act. Our Creator made us with a heart-sized longing for His love to
‘hang on’ to.
exercise in patience for the hearer, or wait-ee. Our Creator created
us for ‘holding on’ as our arms grasp and ‘hang on’. He made our
minds to search for what to hold on to – an idea, a principle, an
act. Our Creator made us with a heart-sized longing for His love to
‘hang on’ to.
Hang on – hang on to
what? Hang on to our vocation? Fame? Money? Status? Youth?
Comfort? Daily Bread? Illusion of the past? Family and treasures of
the family? So many distractions and side issues, how do we find
what is eternal? C.S. Lewis said, “Whatever is not eternal, is
eternally useless”
what? Hang on to our vocation? Fame? Money? Status? Youth?
Comfort? Daily Bread? Illusion of the past? Family and treasures of
the family? So many distractions and side issues, how do we find
what is eternal? C.S. Lewis said, “Whatever is not eternal, is
eternally useless”
My Dad died when I was
midway through life. I felt so alone without my Dad on this earth.
His words of wisdom, his love, his boyish exuberance, his story
telling – were no longer on this earth. I can no longer hear his
laughter. I missed him. It was then I realized that I still had the
Abba Father. Dad taught me about God, knowing that in time I would
find comfort and wisdom just when I needed it. I was not totally
alone on this earth. That moment changed my life, for I knew Whom I
would “Hang on” – The Lord God, the one whom Jesus called Abba
(Daddy) Father.
midway through life. I felt so alone without my Dad on this earth.
His words of wisdom, his love, his boyish exuberance, his story
telling – were no longer on this earth. I can no longer hear his
laughter. I missed him. It was then I realized that I still had the
Abba Father. Dad taught me about God, knowing that in time I would
find comfort and wisdom just when I needed it. I was not totally
alone on this earth. That moment changed my life, for I knew Whom I
would “Hang on” – The Lord God, the one whom Jesus called Abba
(Daddy) Father.
And The Lord God teaches
us to wait…ask Abraham, Moses, Jacob, Joseph and many more, what it
is to wait on God. We do not know the wonder and mystery of prayer.
We think God has not heard our prayer. Yet, Daniel prayed – As
soon as you began to pray, a word went out, which I have
come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Daniel 9:23. And
David waited, writing, “I am weary with my crying out; my throat
is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.” Psalm
63:3
us to wait…ask Abraham, Moses, Jacob, Joseph and many more, what it
is to wait on God. We do not know the wonder and mystery of prayer.
We think God has not heard our prayer. Yet, Daniel prayed – As
soon as you began to pray, a word went out, which I have
come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Daniel 9:23. And
David waited, writing, “I am weary with my crying out; my throat
is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.” Psalm
63:3
Jude 1:21 – “…keep
yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord
Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.”
yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord
Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.”
“Hear my cry, O God,
listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my
heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you
have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. Let me dwell
in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your
wings!” Psalm 61:1-4
listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my
heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you
have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. Let me dwell
in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your
wings!” Psalm 61:1-4
David is reaching out to
God, beseeching God to listen to his call. Lead me… Let me dwell
in your tent… Let me take refuge… David was ‘hanging on’ to
God, and teaching us where our strength lies. Was it difficult to
wait, and continue to ‘hang on’? It was for David and it is for us
as well.
God, beseeching God to listen to his call. Lead me… Let me dwell
in your tent… Let me take refuge… David was ‘hanging on’ to
God, and teaching us where our strength lies. Was it difficult to
wait, and continue to ‘hang on’? It was for David and it is for us
as well.
When the way wears us
down and we want to ‘hang on’ no longer. Yet, we find our strength in
the Lord. We want to finish the race, even as Timothy writes, “I
have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the
faith.” II Timothy 4:7
down and we want to ‘hang on’ no longer. Yet, we find our strength in
the Lord. We want to finish the race, even as Timothy writes, “I
have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the
faith.” II Timothy 4:7
It is the faith that
makes the difference and the words of the song, Our God,
becomes our battle cry!
makes the difference and the words of the song, Our God,
becomes our battle cry!
Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.
Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!
Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.
Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!
And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.
And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.
What could stand against. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkljgA5SQc8)
(Chris Tomlin)
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Philippians 3:12
Hang on, hang on, can you hear me? I’m gonna say it again Hang on, hang on, never giving up No, never giving in
Hang on every hopeful word Even when it seems absurd Keep holdin’ on
If you triumph when you fail Keep your head when you prevail Be a hero, keep hangin’ around
Hang on, hang on, are you listening? Let me say it again Hang on, hang on, never giving up. No, never giving in.
Michael W Smith (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obTiwPHYcSc_
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