Sacred Places

My father used to have a collection of reel to reel tapes (a form of recording before there was iTunes).  One day, when I was very young, I was looking at it and I exclaimed, “This one says, ‘SCARED MUSIC’!!!!”  He barely looked up from what he was doing and he said, “Read it again, carefully.”  “Ohhhh,” I clarified after sounding out all the letters, “it says ‘SACRED MUSIC’! What’s that?”

That day I was taught the difference between sacred and secular and for most of my life I thought a sacred life and secular life were to be kept wholly (or holy?) separate.  I have since had a perspective shift.  A good article by Michael Stewart, D. Min.(http://www.charismamag.com/site-archives/555-christmas-compassion/spiritual-growth/3193-sacred-or-secular-why-you-shouldn-t-divide-your-life)   explains why and I’ve provided the link since the explanation of why I have come to change my mind is not what I’ve chosen to expound upon in this post.

What I do want to relate is one of my own unforgettable experiences where the Holy Spirit has ministered to me using a very seemingly secular medium to show me how willing he is to meet me wherever I am.

It must’ve been about 5 years ago or so while I was driving home late at night.  I was physically run down, I had had a difficult class and my family and I were living temporarily in a place we disliked. With the car radio on in the background I cried out my frustration, “God, I know in my head that I’m your girl; I know you ALWAYS have my back, but right now I really need to know in my heart that you haven’t forgotten about me and my family.  I need you to remind me of how you see me once again.  Please.”

Just then, a song by Prince that I have always enjoyed but NEVER considered spiritual came on.  I listened to the lyrics as if the Holy Spirit was directly answering me.  The chorus was especially meaningful:

U don’t have 2 be rich

2 be my girl 

U don’t have 2 be cool

2 rule my world

Ain’t no particular sign I’m more compatible with

I just want your extra time and your

Kiss

What it said to me was, “Daughter, you don’t have to earn or do anything to be my Princess. Because you are mine, you inherit my Kingdom.  We are alike not by chance but because you are made in my image and all I want is your attention and to spend time with you.”

I think God gets a kick out of showing us he can speak to us in new and surprising ways.  I know he loves relating to us on a level we can understand.  Do you have a story of a surprising way God has revealed himself to you?  Feel free to share in the comments below.

-Tessa L. Charles