Six years ago

image: scotthuckphoto

This Easter marks six years since God did the impossible and changed me from a God-hating person to one standing in awe of his grace and love. No small feat, I can tell you.

It's been a massive six years, and in many ways it feels like life only began six years ago - that is true enough.

At around the same time in 2004 I picked up a little record with a Swan sketched on the front. It was Sufjan Stevens' Seven Swans album.

It sort of became the soundtrack to life at that time - reflecting on the ambivalence of faith, the certainty of God and the challenge before me to follow him.

One of the most poignant songs on the record for me is To Be Alone With You. These are the words. My reading of it is, it's Sufjan speaking personally to Jesus, who "went up on a tree" for him. The last line I think is referring to the disappointing relationships we have in life, that are mere shadows of the true and perfect relationship on offer with God.

I'd swim across Lake Michigan

I'd sell my shoes

I'd give my body to be back again

in the rest of room.

To be alone with you.

You gave your body to the lonely

They took your clothes.

You gave up a wife and family

You gave your ghost

To be alone with me

To be alone with me -

You went up on a tree.

I've never met a man who loved me.