My wonderful man and I went to a gig on Saturday night and as we arrived I knew already that there would be an encore. I don’t know why it bugs me so much, but it does. We all know the full set has been decided on and will be completed, that two to three songs are tagged out so time to do the charade can unfold. I don’t get it and don’t think I ever will. As I enjoyed the songs sung, the atmosphere and enjoyment of those around me my mind couldn’t help but ponder encore’s.
I love that with a gig while we don’t know what songs will be played or what the order will be we are certain to enjoy it. While we don’t know why there will be an encore charade everyone will go through the motions, my man will look at me with a grin and I will show my exasperation in return. Just once I am holding out for a talented musician to say they don’t want to do the charade and just walk off the stage and that be it. Being satisfied they’ve put it all out there and done what they set out to bring to all those in the audience.
Best of all I love that with God there won’t be an encore. He is not holding anything back from us. He is not playing any games. I love that His character is loving, purposeful, tender, powerful, present, and that there is also a backbone. What He says goes. What He promises will be. What is unknown is because that is right. What seems hard is not wasted.
I don’t say those words lightly because I know there may be people reading this that have endured things I can’t even imagine. But having been sexually abused, enduring heartache to be a family, experiencing people that have hurt, disappointed and left me I know LIFE is not fair, that bad things happen when not deserved, that unexpected hardships have to be grappled through, that peoples flaws can impact.
God is in control, His purposes will prevail, His deep love for us unrelenting and unchangeable…so how can I say I love His character when bad things happen? How can I love that He has a backbone when it doesn’t always go my way, far from it in fact? Well God created the heavens and earth, He sent His one and only Son to ensure we could choose forgiveness and enjoy eternal life with Them. He reminds us that in the hard we can look to Him for strength and comfort. In the unexpected we can trust that His hand is at work and the bigger purpose for us will prevail, that His promises can’t be broken, that no matter how we behave He won’t change His love or withdraw.
For me the fact there is no encore with God makes me reflect. Especially in a time when people are so use to being able to take a wrong turn and GPS will recalculate. When they are so use to using filters on phones to blur what is reality. When they can pour hours into “following” others to escape. When I am navigating hard roads with people I can’t click a button to change the way I worded something. When I am weary and feeling discouraged the decisions I make can’t be undone. When I falter on the road set before me I can’t undo the impact of wasted time and navigating through errors. We don’t get an encore! Each moment needs to be intentional. Each decision needs to be weighed up with what is wise, honourable, will produce the best for ourselves and those around us. This life is not a throw away one. This life is not insignificant. Decisions we make, the ways that we conduct ourselves, the imprint we leave around us matters!!!!
What way will you live each moment knowing there is no encore?
What words will you choose to use when speaking with another?
What ways will you allow God to shape you in the highs and lows of life?
What things will you invest into, what people will you show grace to?
This life doesn’t hold re-do’s and encores! This life does hold purpose, grace, learning and so much more than we could hope or imagine. This life does hold value in the individual moments, in the communities we engage with, in the things we choose to take up our time. When you sit with that, how are you going to tweak to make the most of this life without the encore?
