Spirit Online

June 28, 2009

Quote

I'm So Glad I'm Standing Here Today

There were times
I remember
Had to fight just to hold my head up
Those times when even my friends
tried to make a fool of me
there were things that my heart attacked
that they just couldn’t see

Some said I was hopeless
............ tangled in the night
Strong hearts just keep goin’
That is why I’m still standing here today

Come together
raise up your voices
This time my song of love and life won’t go away
I’ll sing forever
here in the sunshine
I’ve lived to see the sun break through the storm
And I’m so glad I’m still standing here today.

If you’re lost in your troubles
And the world just seems to forget you
If you remember sunshine
even on your darkest day
Just follow what your heart says
And you will find the way

Some said I was hopeless
........... tangled in the night
Strong hearts just keep goin’
That is why I’m still standing here today

Come together
raise up your voices
This time my song of love and life won’t go away
I’ll sing forever
here in the sunshine
I’ve lived to see the sun break through the storm
And I’m so glad I’m standing here today.
-- by Will Jennings originally performed by Joe Cocker

Thoughts

“I'm So Glad I'm Standing Here Today” is not only a beautiful song, but it also carries an incredibly positive and uplifting message for all of us. 

Will Jennings and Joe Sample – members of the jazz-funk band, The Crusaders -- wrote this song for Joe Cocker at a point in his life where he had finally overcome his addiction to heroin, but was still struggling with alcoholism.  The music industry had given up on him, and Cocker’s career appeared to be over; he wasn’t able to secure a recording contract or concert venue.  But Jennings -- whose grandfather was a Methodist circuit preacher -- believed in everyone’s right to redemption … so he created this song with Sample specifically to allow Joe Cocker another chance.

The song was nominated for a Grammy and, even more importantly for Joe Cocker, served as a launching pad for his triumphant return into the music business: a second chance that enabled him to recover his reputation, restore his faith in himself and cement his legacy as a performer.  In essence, it allowed him to stand on his own two feet again, and work through the issues that had been impeding his health, well being and success.  And 20 plus years later, Joe Cocker is still standing strong today.

Likewise, we all have the ability to stand strong and persevere through whatever challenges life presents.

The words “stand” or “standing” are mentioned frequently throughout the Bible; one example is found in Revelations 3:20-21, where Jesus says, “Behold!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.  To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne.”

Jesus is telling us that he is standing at the door and knocking … essentially, asking to be let in.  He is advising us that God – and all His strength, wisdom, will, courage, love, inspiration, and whatever else we need to overcome any challenge – is always available to us, always asking to be let into our lives.  All we have to do is open the door: open our minds and expand our awareness of God as a divine, creative activity in our lives.  Those willing to open that door – and access the “still, small voice within” – will find themselves sitting at the table, having access to all of the fruits that it is our Father’s good pleasure to give each of us.

But we must go deeper than just opening the door.  Jesus says, “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne.”  Jesus is telling us that it is our Father’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom.  That with God all things are possible.  That with God we can overcome any challenge, and achieve every desire.  But we must be willing to do the work: to “overcome.”  In other words, once you have actually opened the door -- once you’ve opened your mind and accessed this amazing storehouse of power – what will you do with it?  How will you use it in your life?  How will you apply it to overcome your fears and challenges?  How will you stand with it in your faith?  What will you stand for?

In the ancient Aramaic language of Jesus, “stand” has its root meaning in the word “kam,” and it literally means to stand forth, stand for or stand strong.  So we can interpret Jesus’ statement as a formula for redemption, for recovery, and for healing.  It is a formula for reclaiming your life, reputation, career, relationships, or whatever else you may need or desire.  It is a gift from God that is borne out of our own convictions and commitment.  As Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote in Law of Compensation, “’What will you have?’ sayeth God.  ‘Pay for it and take it.’”  In other words, if we are just willing to do the work, we will be able to reap all of the rewards that we seek in life.

When the next crisis occurs – whether it’s a personal issue or an international crisis – how will you stand?

The experts are giving us the “benefit” of all their dire predictions and prognosis about the economy, job opportunities, world peace, the ability to create a new life and a new world … many say these things can’t be done during times like the present.  How will you stand in the face of these declarations?  This is the question we must answer for ourselves over and over again, because life is filled with challenges.  But throughout those challenges, we must stand in our faith and conviction, and keep the door open that leads to the wonders and blessings of God.

The apostle Paul said, “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you.”  This sentiment must resonate with your soul, because if you don’t really believe it, life can be extremely difficult or challenging.  We will all be buffeted and battered by the winds and storms of life.  But the bottom line is, can we remain “standing?”  The quality of your stance is highly dependent on who you believe yourself to be … how worthy you deem yourself … what you internally believe about who you are in God and what God is in you.  How we stand in the face of our challenges impacts our ability to be motivated and achieve, to think clearly, to know the truth of who we really are and what’s really going on in our lives.

Each and every one of us will face numerous challenges throughout our life.  But we have the ability to remain standing throughout all of them.  With faith and conviction, we can “live to see the sun break through the storm.”  By accessing the love, light, power and presence that God continuously offers, we can “sing forever in the sunshine,” and be “still standing” every day.

God bless you!

Prayer

Living, loving Spirit, today I celebrate my connection to You and express gratitude for everything in my life.  I release all of my worries and open myself to receive Your infinite wisdom, strength, inspiration and unconditional love.  I surrender all of life’s challenges to you, and place absolute trust in you.  I am receptive to divine wisdom working in and through me.  I know that, with You, all things are possible.  For this truth, I say thank you, God.  Thank you.  Amen.

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