Sometimes I sing the words of a song but don’t give much thought to the meaning. Maybe “not-thinking” is my knee-jerk reaction to the constant noise in our world. Or that may be my head-hurt indication of a desperate need for repetition.

Most of the time these endless loops become a nuisance. Every now and then the timing of these songs that never end is impeccable. Has this ever happened to you? I may “hear” a phrase over and over again two or three days before I “need” to understand. When the meaning finally makes a point it is “just when” I need to realize what is being said.

My latest guest soloist was the old hymn titled “Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord.” Do you know it? It is a good song to let your head hurt while thinking about and reflecting on the words. Each stanza mentions unpleasant emotions and difficult circumstances in our lives. Yet, instead of wallowing in “woe is me” or pondering that “something good is going to happen,” the poet ends with a prayer of dependence, “teach me Thy way.”

The last stanza was hanging around a few days ago. After lingering two days I began to wonder if this was going to become a nuisance. Then the light went on. I realized that verse ends like the closing farewell of a letter. The phrases are reminiscent of the apostle’s admonition to persevere in the faith. No self-pity. No pep talk. Only an encouragement to press toward the mark….

Until the race is run,
Until the journey’s done,
Until the crown is won,

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