Let me say this . . . life is tough. Whether your 8 or 80, it’s just tough. This occurs because of our individual woes, like money problems, or health issues, or relationships (family or friends) that are bumpy. And then add onto that all the woes of things going on in the world (maybe a war, earthquakes, hatreds) or things going on right here within our schools or local politics. Life is just hard. It was in the time of Jesus also. He was born and suffered through pain . . . but then something incredible happened.
[Sing]
We have seen and we have all been told, and our way are passed to young from old.
He was born and suffered through the pain, and he rose to move against the grain.
No more sorrow. No more pain. Come oh hope, oh come against the grain.
Against the grain? What does that mean? Let’s say you’re a woodworker, a carpenter. And you have a high-grade plank or section of wood that you want to smooth out. One of the first things you determine is the grain of the wood. All wood has a grain to it. Grain refers to the fibers of wood and the direction in which they lie,
which way it’s going. For if you’re going to work with it—plane it, carve it, or chisel it—it’s so much easier to go with the grain. That is, just go with the flow, go with the grain.
But if you go against the grain the world of carpentry, it is more difficult and less common.
Now Jesus would have known all about grains of wood and smoothing them out, for his dad, Joseph, was a carpenter. Jesus offers us a different way to look at life, like in the gospel. He offer us inspiration and grace to go against the grain. For example, when we are hurt, NOT to get back at them, or to get even . . . but to say, give me another insult, post another negative comment. It’s like saying you slapped me here [point to one cheek] here now slap me on this side [point to other cheek]. That takes an incredible amount of control, that most of us don’t have, but it also takes grace. That is that grace and wisdom of God with us.
Come oh grace and wash the tears from the earth. Come oh grace and bring us all to a new birth.
As he died to give us life again, we shall rise and move against the grain.
No more sorrow. No more pain. Come oh grace, oh come against the grain.
Jesus talk about things that doesn’t make any sense. It goes against the grain of what society says is OK.
And you have to think for yourself . . . has any of you need to get revenge, get even, settle the score helped at all? Probably NOT, in the long-run.
But what do you do when life is so hard? Well as Jesus says, “Pray for those who mistreat you.” Not prayers of “Dear God, go get that jerk.” or “God make her start agreeing with me.” NO. I suggest praying, “Dear God, give them a good night’s sleep.” or “God, I hope they eat their broccoli today.” Meaning . . . pray that for their general well-being . . . and then let God take care of them. God’s grace.
But we have to do our part . . . like, stop judging so much. Yes, sometimes you have to evaluate the situation. Especially if you are overseeing workers, or are a teacher or parent. Yes, evaluate and do what you can. But too often we “assume” we know what is going on inside a person’s experience and we judge them. Let the judging be God’s business, not yours.
My advice is for you to “go against the grain.” You be the different one in your grade, or you be the oddball among the relatives. When everyone else is acting “this way,” you go against the grain and “that way.” You, go forgive, even when you’ve been wronged. You go do something nice for that person who doesn’t like you.
You go love. How? Well, you don’t do it alone . . .
And his word we carry as our shield, and his love will shelter us forever.
As he lived will we be no less the same, when we rise and move against the grain.
No more sorrow. No more pain. Come oh love, oh come against grain.