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These are lyrics from one of my favorite Musical Artists. I was driving around today and this song was at the end of a CD mix I made. I didn’t expect it, but it really just caught me.
Have You Ever
Written by Shawn McDonald
Have you ever wanted to be someone else
Have you ever wanted just to be someone
Have you ever wanted to reach your dreams
Have you ever wanted life to be more than it seems
I have tasted of a love so wide
That it stops all my time
I have tasted of a love so deep
That it blows my mind
Have you ever wanted to reach up and touch the sky
Have you ever wanted to pack it up and say good-bye
Have you ever wanted someone to care
Have you ever wanted someone to be there
He is sweet, He is sweet
What your looking for
Is my sweet, sweet Jesus
What You’re looking for
Is my sweet Lord
I can say that I spent a lot of my life asking those very questions. Wanting to be somebody. Wanting to be somewhere, anywhere but where I was. Wanting somebody to notice me.
Well, I wish that I didn’t have those wants any more. I wish I could say that I am totally satisfied, because I should be. The truth is, when I look to Jesus and live my life in, by and for Him, those longings are completely fulfilled. It is just that I don’t always keep my focus on Jesus.
Make no mistake about it, though, I tried finding the fulfillment of those longings in many areas. And, the truth is, I NEVER found lasting fulfillment in any of my deepest longings, apart from knowing and following Jesus Christ…my Friend, my Satisfaction, my Savior, my Creator, my King.
Have you found fulfillment?
Oceans freeze!
Okay, so that makes sense. I mean we have the Arctic and Antarctic Oceans. Then there is the Bering Strait. Okay, so oceans freeze. No big deal.
However, I guess I never thought I would see an ocean that is frozen. I have seen the Pacific plenty of times. But, it never ceases to amaze me that it is frozen. Sure, I am in Alaska. But, Anchorage stays warm in the winter because of ocean currents coming from warmer places.
I suppose that there is a connection between a frozen ocean and the reality that Anchorage has been below 25 degrees for about 6-7 weeks…with many days dreaming of reaching 25, but never making it past single digits.
Because of this cold, I had not been able to open my bedroom window, for six weeks. It had been frozen shut from condensation running down and making little ice falls, in the windowsill. (Want to hear something gross? That was 6 weeks of frozen breath…no wonder my room had this interesting smell.)
Well, that all changed today. I was able to get the window open. How wonderful 
I mean, seriously, it was so refreshing to feel the cool air, while working at my computer. (I am one of those warm people who needs cold.)
If your wondering how I got the window open, it is because the last several days have been quite lovely. Today, it even got up to about 38 degrees. I just loved going outside in my T-shirt and soaking up some rays. Glorious.
See, I told you I have been chosen to be frozen. How else could you figure that I love this place and this cold…
I am reading through the Gospel of Mark and came across this, in chapter 9 verses 2-13…
Jesus takes Peter, James and John up a mountain, where He is transfigured. This must have been an awesome sight to see. I am not sure I fully understand what transfigured means, but Jesus’ clothes becoming radiantly white and having Elijah and Moses show up had to be impressive. So impressive that the boys were terrified (v.6).
So, Peter, not knowing what to say, speaks up anyway. (I like Peter. He gives me hope that God can use me.) And, in what seems to be fine-fashioned form, for Peter, he gets it wrong…AGAIN.
For reference, Peter is a passionate guy who is reported as getting it wrong on several occasions. Once, Jesus called Peter satan, because Peter tried to rebuke Jesus. (Matt. 16:22&23) Then, there is when Peter tells Jesus not to wash his feet, and in the next breathe tells Jesus to wash his whole body. (John 13:6-10) Of course, there is Peter’s denial of Jesus, after Jesus is arrested. (Matt. 29:69-75)
Now, I don’t mean to get down on Peter. The reality is that I get it wrong all the time. And, in the midst of knowing that Peter and I will get it wrong, God appoints us to be His ambassadors. What? Yes, God sees things in us that we can’t see.
So, back to Peter talking when he didn’t know what to say. Why?
Why is it that Peter can’t just listen? What is it that I…I mean Peter thinks he has to offer? Why do I think I need to say something? Here I am, in the presence of the Glory of God and listening to a talk between Jesus, Moses and Elijah and I feel the need to say something…
I love, but am humbled by God’s answer…yes, God spoke directly to Peter! And He said, “This is my beloved Son, listen to Him.”
Is that a Holy “PIPE DOWN?” (say that with a Scottish accent.)
Whatever it is, I know it is time for me to start listening more to Jesus and doing less talking…
