Song of the Cicada

Scripture:  Colossians 1:19-23 - 'For IN HIM ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD WAS PLEASED TO DWELL, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether in earth or in heaven, MAKING PEACE by the blood of His cross. And YOU who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, HE HAS now RECONCILED in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him, if indeed YOU CONTINUE in the faith, STABLE and STEADFAST, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.'  

As this is being written, I have been hearing, as well as occasionally listening to the sounds coming through my windowpane, from the backyard nearest where I'm sitting. Some would find it an annoyance, others a curiosity and a wonder, and some would find it troubling as it connects with the swarm of many big, clumsy, and occasionally intrusive bugs waiting to incidentally land on us and everything around, unimpressed with our importance, our pretty gardens, and clean walkways- even our plans and orderliness. These are unconcerned with the panic some of us have, when they flitter near our face, land in our hair, or bump into our being. Our swatting means little, and our frustrated words to them do not deter. Even the crunch of their peers do not alter their conduct, as they are sandwiched between concrete and sole, many times over. They just continue, as they've done across seventeen-year cycles, for so many weeks, doing by design.

Our media has quickened our expectations for these, to the endpoint of soft excitement, sometimes anxiety, and sometimes adventurousness.

These offend us so, these Cicada... sometimes not much for some.

Their sounds permeate everything, and are unrelenting, or put differently, are stable and steadfast.

Stable, the opposite of labile, means true to one's makeup, having a manner consistent with what [or whose] we are, and steadfast, similarly, means consistent and persevering, dogged in the direction we have chosen, or are assigned, resisting contrary circumstances.

In a way we as believers, or more precisely, disciples, share a thing or two with the cicada, having a calling, and a hard-wiring to be steadfast and stable, and bringing to life our own salvation song, day to day, to the consternation and curiosity of our unbelieving neighbors, and our half-believing peers.

Before we believed, we shared that annoyance or deference, but that invisible song of prayer kept coming, and those with their selfless conduct triggered our selfishness, and the message of the gospel of Christ, bumping into us, got our attention, through which our 'yes' emerged, becoming one of them Christian folk.

And now, we too, in the spirit realm, and upon the earth, we have a song born of a hope come of God, Himself, given with all intention, that we walk out the life we're given in a very certain way, pushing with love and pulling unto holiness, having impact as God wills.  

While the language of the cicada is barely relatable, the steadfastness and stability of them and their song, gives one pause to think of one's own faithfulness, entering into the day, heavenly minded, with the gift of a sacred song, which is thoughtful and more, drawing souls to the Lord who has put upon our hearts, His signature song.

With an urge, born of forgiveness, o' soul, declare!

Prayer:  Thank You Jesus, for Your signature song put upon this undeserving heart. May there be salvation, upon the noise I bring today, unto joy and peace, through the outreach of gratefulness which embraces each moment's measure of mercy, and grace. Should I be offensive, let it come of light, and of love, and ultimately be an agent of favor. Help me to continue in the faith, stable and steadfast. Thank You Lord. Amen. Have Your way. Hallelujah!

(by Dr. McNeal Brockington)