So today is the last day of “31 Days of Hindsight” and as you see, 22 is the new 31 for me:)

One of the things I believe God is working on in my life is letting HIM set the goals AND chart the path. I have no doubt that HE asked me to take the “Hindsight Journey” but I took over with the number 31.  I inserted my rationale, that a full month ending on my birthday made perfect sense, and it does in a human head.

GOD DOES NOT HAVE A HUMAN HEAD.

HE IS THE GODHEAD!

The more I get to know the heart of God, I don’t really see HIM fitting into people plans. I see the heart of God in HIS Word, where I see imperfect people following a perfect God, who does not give formulas, shortcuts or quick fixes.  HE is a God who likes to travel with us, holding our hand each step of HIS Way. We were actually made to be dependent, just not on others, CODEPENDENT, or ourselves,  INDEPENDENT. We are made to be dependent on HIM.

“The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you…” Deut. 33:27 NLT

The DEPENDENCE reminder was for me but I hope it added value to your world as well! I plan to go into 2017 FULLY DEPENDENT. I would love for you to go with me!

All that to say:

22 days of hindsight will do!

God showed me the story of Sixto Rodriquez earlier this year.  This man’s life made a tremendous impact on mine. I wrote about him in my journal and I shared his story with my writing group and the Our City On A Hill team. I did not, however, share it on the blog. I am so glad God gave me this timely reminder to close out the year.

I hope you will check out Sixto for yourself.

The documentary “Searching for Sugar Man”  is a must see.

The film is about Sixto Rodriguez. He made one album years ago but it never really caught on. Sixto simply went back to being a metal worker and to living a quiet life.

Unbeknownst to Sixto, his album got smuggled into South Africa, where it became an anthem of the Anti-apartheide movement. Sixto was bigger than Elvis on the other side of the world!

*This definition will come back into play at the conclusion of this post:

Merriam-Webster’s Definition of apartheid:
1
: racial segregation; specifically : a former policy of segregation and political and economic discrimination against non-European groups in the Republic of South Africa
2
: separation, segregation

Over time, rumors spread that Sixto was dead and that he had gone down in a “flame of glory.”  Some record people decided to investigate the death of Sixto and in their “search for Sugar Man” they actually found him alive and well.

The record people had the privilege of telling Sixto that his album had in fact become famous.  They had the beautiful blessing of informing Sixto that his gift, his music, had impacted a nation and had become a national symbol of hope and freedom.

The record people brought Sixto to South Africa, to the other side of the world, to perform for a SOLD OUT SHOW! A man believed to be dead was now sharing his gift, in person, with a stadium full, a stadium full of souls hungry for hope singing Sixto’s anthem of freedom!

It is an unbelievable story that breathed life into me.  Sixto’s story was the fresh wind I needed at a crossroad with my writing and painting and at a moment of wondering if anything I had to offer ever really mattered. His story spoke to the quiet places in my heart where masterpieces are made and outcomes are none of my business.

Sixto’s story is a message of meaning for us all.  Whatever “music” is being crafted in our “caves of creativity” let it rise up and let it go. Let it land where it will and leave the outcomes up to God!

In the meantime, be content with the “metal work” our hands have been given to do, and do it with excellence.

If we are not faithful in obscurity, we will not be faithful famous!

The harvest is great. May we be willing workers right where we are!

He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” Matthew 9:37-38

May 2017 be a year of cultivating in our caves, not clamoring for acclaim!

Our Eternal Home, or the “other side of this world”, is where a great cloud of witnesses is cheering us on from a filled Heavenly Stadium! The crowd is roaring, as we share our HOPE IN CHRIST songs through the lives we live.

May our melodies be anthems in the ANTI-APARTHEID movement as well!

DIVERSE BUT NOT DIVIDED-UNIQUE WE STAND UNITED!

See you in 2017!