Sunday Morning, June 29th

In by Roger Staub0 Comments

“On a Sunday morning sidewalk; Oh I’m wishing, Lord, that I was stoned.  ‘Cause there’s something in a Sunday that makes a body feel alone.  And there ain’t nothin’ short of dyin’ that’s half as lonesome as the sound of a sleepin’ city sidewalk and Sunday mornin’ comin’ down.”  –  Kris Kristofferson

This great country song, Sunday Morning Coming Down, was recorded by Ray Stevens in the 60’s, and later by Johnny Cash, Kristofferson, and Willie Nelson.  Cash’s version hit #1  on the country charts, and it has endured as a classic.  Kristofferson wrote the song in Nashville, working as a janitor for Columbia records.  Although he had a Masters Degree, he turned down a teaching position for the chance to get a song published and recorded.  I first heard the song on a Willie Nelson Live album in the 1980’s when I was traveling a lot, and ever since I’ve been captivated by the pain-filled lyrics.

The hard, down-and-out life the song describes is shown to somehow be more painful on a Sunday morning.  The quiet, empty streets, the sound of a church bell and Sunday school kids singing are a harsh reminder that there’s another way to live . . . . but right now, there’s no way to get there.  Just the raw, empty feeling that comes from remembering other, better times.  To be stoned is the only prayer he can muster.

On this Sunday morning I wonder how many folks in my town are feeling the hurt of ‘Sunday morning coming down?’  Plenty, I’m sure.  But what really pains me is that this song captures the disconnect between the church and the many hurting folks around us.  It’s a problem of perception.  Most churches have many compassionate, caring people in them, but the perception of the church in the eye of the struggling, messed up person is a place for religious exercise, not a place to dump the garbage he’s dragging around.

I think we need to read the gospels again, and observe Jesus as the multitudes flocked to Him.  Granted, we’re not the Messiah; we can’t ‘heal them all’ as He did.  But can’t we somehow become accessible, hospitable; change the perception to one of openness and deep concern for hurting folks?  After all, the best we can do is get them to Jesus; He has to do the miracles.  But this Sunday morning I fear it would take a miracle for the hurting to feel they could knock on our door.  I pray we can change that.   Roger

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