We are Free

Yesterday I experienced something few people ever have the chance to witness. It was along the lines of the feeling one might have when walking upon a flash mob, a well orchestrated and emotional musical experience. Except there was no flash mob.

I was teaching a class of 1st graders art. We had prayed as we always do, and then I was beginning instruction, telling the class what we would be working on that day. That's when I heard it. A noise. More like a hum. Who was humming? As I spoke, I scanned the classroom and thought I picked out the culprit, a boy, someone who just might be humming during my instruction in order to disrupt me. It happens sometimes. I eyed him and stopped talking. Then I said, "Shhh." The class got quiet. The boy was not humming. Instead, there was a tune, a melody coming from somewhere. We all listened hard and realized there was noise coming from the sanctuary behind our classroom. We all recognized the song about the same time.

"Shhh," I said again, wanting to forgo my instruction for a moment to listen to the worshipful song. But then someone started singing along, "Je-sus, lamb of God, worthy is your na-a-a-ame..." And then another joined in and another and another, and before I knew it, I was singing God's praises along with my group of first graders. We were all one in this impromptu, unplanned worship experience, and as this one young lady began to belt it out in all the wrong notes, I realized that there, in that little art room, I and the children had been more free than most of the entire world. We experienced true Freedom.

This morning the government decided to open up for business again. The Land of the Free is business as usual today, and that's good. There are people who died for my right and for the children I teach, that we may worship the Lord and sing his praises whenever we like. I am so grateful for this freedom. But beyond that, I am so thankful for the unbelievable freedom that comes only in knowing Christ. Our little first grade art room "flash mob" musical experience was indeed orchestrated, but not by me or any human being. No person could have come up with anything that good.

If you'd like to hear the tune we heard and sang, here's a version of "You are My All In All." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_FtEzxu5J8