align your longings.

there's this version of come thou long expected Jesus. it's christy nockels/chris tomlin if you look it up, but really it's just christy singing a capella. i thought it was lack luster until the other day when i was listening to it on the train. read these lyrics: 

Come Thou long expected Jesus

Born to set Thy people free

From our fears and sins release us

Let us find our rest in Thee

Israel's strength and consolation

Hope of all the earth Thou art

Dear desire of every nation

Joy of every longing heart

Born Thy people to deliver

Born a child and yet a King

Born to reign in us forever

Now Thy gracious kingdom bring

By Thine own eternal spirit

Rule in all our hearts alone

By Thine all sufficient merit

Raise us to Thy glorious throne

 

so i open my eyes on the "rule in all our hearts alone" line and see the cover to one of those free newspapers - it's the teacher heroine from the elementary school shooting in connecticut. i start to tear up and look to my right and see a familiar barefoot homeless man who wreaks of urine and can barely utter the words he needs to beg.

i dig in my cashless pockets and happen to find two quarters. then everything just starts hitting me. the rich person, the poor person, the in-betweener. we're all leveled out on this train car. where else would we all be in one confined space? breathing each other's air, being forced to invade each other's personal space?

you guys need to board this train. it's filled with reminders that babies are more powerful than we think, our hearts need a King, and every one of our hearts longs. align your longings.