It Is Still True

Mark 9:5

"..it is good for us to be here;.."
        Said good old St. Peter.
"It is good for us to be here."
        Is said by each new church greeter.

And so, I thought, it must be true
        Each time we get together
For that little hour or so
        We can even forget the weather!

Here they were, the three of them,
        With Jesus, Elijah and Moses.
How we, like them, are happy
        Knowing it is God who chose us

To be on the mountain with them
        High above the world's cares,
To be so much closer to God,
        The one who answers our prayers.

Sometimes we forget the truth,
        Nine others remained below,
A father's son there needed help
        And they also need to go.

It is not either/or (as we know)
        It is both/and that must be.
Spending time with God helps us
        To see as God does see.

We must give to the world, after all,
        From what we have received,
To help the unbelievers
        So that Christ can be believed.

We need not give up this hour!
        With the Bible as our guide,
We are able to do God's work
        In this world so full of pride.

The three disciples spent time with God,
        And it was God who sent
All of them to call upon men
        And to tell them to repent.

So go to church each week
        To fortify your soul,
Then use what God has given you
        To make the wounded whole.

Take the song that you have learned
        As in church your voices raise.
And all week long just sing that song
        Until all people learn how to praise.

In this world of wickedness,
        In this land of night,
People look to us, you see,
        While looking for the light.

Now it is not just in church
        "It is good for us to be here"
But in our work and in the world
        We can drive away its fear.

Until those around us
        Join us in that cheer
So that we can say together
        "It is good for us to be here!"

gvs@idt.net
March 4, 2000