On June 17, 2013 I posted the following on this blog: “Time for the summer vacation . . . will resume posting in about one month. In the meantime – love each other as we all have been loved!!!”
At the time it was my intention to take about a month of vacation from blog writing and then to resume. At some point during that month I found myself questioning if there was any reason to resume my blogging. Clearly I decided that the answer was “NO” – however – the events of recent days have led me to the point where I am no longer able to stay silent – so – I title this post, “Here we go again . . . time for another new beginning . . .” At some point in the coming days I will elaborate about the happenings that have caused me to return to writing – but today – it is sufficient to say that there are some things that I must say – I am no longer able to remain silent!
Before I begin I need to make a request of the people who read this blog. I do not want this writing to remain a solo endeavor. It is my great desire that people who read this will respond with comments that create a community of discussion. That is very important to me because I know that I am stronger when I am not alone. I need other people – those who sometimes agree with me and those who often – or possibly always – disagree with me. The only ground rule that I will establish is this — it is imperative that our discussions be civil and polite because I am convinced that we experience growth through what Frances Taylor Gench labels as “faithful disagreement.” (In a future post I will describe the process that led Professor Gench toward the writing of her book Faithful Disagreement: Wrestling with Scripture in the Midst of Church Conflict – Westminster John Knox Press, 2009). As we journey along together I will do my very best to honestly state my thoughts and I ask that you do the same. Also, please make others aware of this discussion if you believe they would have interest and benefit from our discussions.
Today I conclude with some words that have frequently assisted me along the path of my personal journey. They are the opening words from the final chapter of Faithsong: A New Look at the Ministry of Music by Thomas L. Are (The Westminster Press, 1981).
The song we sing is good. It is called grace.
I have often felt that if I had five days, or even five hours in which I were free to listen, God would surely speak to me. It would have been important to me if [God] had done so. I would have listened and now I would have been able to say, “Hear the new word from God.”
However, nothing like that has happened. I have had many hours free. God has had ample time to tell me anything [God] wants me to know. I have been more quiet that usual and God has been terribly silent.
This disappoints me. [God’s] silence has pushed me back to the old recourses of friends, books, and memories that have always sustained me. I won’t give an authoritative new chapter but will reaffirm the same old word I have already said, done, thought, experienced, and half-believed all my life.
For the prophets, the only requirement for writing a book was to begin by saying, “Thus saith the [Holy One].” Later the church fathers [and mothers] would write: “The church has always said . . . .” But the most I can say about the gospel we sing is, “It seems to me.” I can’t say, “Thus saith the [Holy One],” because [God] doesn’t always speak to me. Nor can I say, “The church has always said . . . ,” for the church has seldom had enough unity to have always said anything. The most honest thing I can say is, “It seems to me.” (93)
And so we begin again . . .
tmitchellmusic 
My friend Tom- Seems to me a good idea. Is “Jesus loves me” something more than what seems a good idea? Seems to me, Yes! But maybe not?
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