I’ve heard stories of pastors who had odd habits, such as including illustrations from their favorite movies in every sermon. At the risk of being that pastor, I’m going to follow up last month’s “From the Pastor” where I highlighted a favorite song by my favorite singer David Wilcox, by highlighting another one. This one’s called “Hold it Up to the Light.” Here’s a link to a YouTube video where Wilcox explains the song’s origin. And here’s a link to the song itself. 

If you didn’t listen to the song, it is a song about lifetime decisions. Wilcox was recalling a prior time in his life when he faced a big decision. He said, “And I’m thinking to myself, it’s a big decision. What if I do my best but I just make some, some slip. What if I set my life off in the wrong direction and it’s never the same afterwards.” He said that instead of trusting in the guidance he had previously known, what if God was like a game show host who tells you you’ve chosen the wrong door and haven’t won. 

Wilcox said he was scared because he was thinking of that famous Robert Frost poem, “Two Roads Diverged”, where the traveler cannot travel both paths. But Wilcox says, “we have to choose, we have to trust. All we can do is ‘hold it up to the light’.” Here’s some of the lyrics from the song: 

And if I wait then they all will be lost roads I said God, will you bless this decision 

As each road is getting shorter the longer, I stay. Cause I’m so scared here with my life at stake. 

But now as soon as I’m moving, this choice feels good. But now I see if you gave me a vision 

As this way comes through right where I prayed that it would then I never would have reason to use my faith. 

If I keep my eyes open and look where I should 

Somehow all of the signs are in sight. 

If I just hold it up to the light. 

Wilcox goes on to say he realized he was looking at that Robert Frost poem in a pessimistic way, that there’s only one chance and if you get the choice wrong, you’re lost. Instead, he realized the poem was about retrospect and that no matter what path you choose, you’ll be grateful for the life it led you to. 

“Hold It Up To the Light” speaks of God’s guidance, vision, and faith. When facing a big decision in my life, I’ve thought about this song more than once. I’ve also thought about it in the past month as our church has faced what our moderator, Tamra Phillips, has called a “leap of faith.” We have different paths when it comes to the resource of our church’s land. As we prepare to make this decision on Sunday September 17 at our congregational meeting after wor-ship, I encourage each of us to “Hold it up to the Light.” I encourage us to approach the conversation from the per-spective of faith. We may not be able to see the whole picture now, but as Wilcox sings, “if you gave me a vision, then I never would have reason to use my faith.” 

The writer of the book of Hebrews wrote these words, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (11:1) He or she then proceeds to recount the heroes of faith and how they set out on their journey without knowing their destination, whether that was Abraham, Isaac, Moses, or someone else. 

As we take our “Leap of Faith” this month, I think what’s most important is that: 

1. We continually trust in God’s guidance as we make this decision. 

2. After making the decision we keep moving forward together. 

3. We walk together and pursue God’s call to us uniting our individual skills, gifts, and talents as we seek to be a Christ-centered community sharing God’s love with the world. 

Holding “it” up to the light, 

Pastor David