I Refuse

Listened to this song today and it just really struck a chord with me.  The words (below) are great, but the video really tells a story in itself as well.  It is worth 3 1/2 minutes to watch it.

I Refuse lyrics
Songwriters: Benjamin Glover;Joshua David Wilson

Sometimes I
I just want to close my eyes
And act like everyone's alright
When I know they're not

This world needs God
But it's easier to stand and watch
I could say a prayer and just move on
Like nothing's wrong

But I refuse
'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse

To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse

I can hear the least of these
Crying out so desperately
And I know we are the hands and feet
Of You, oh God

So, if You say move
It's time for me to follow through
And do what I was made to do
Show them who You are

'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse

To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse

To stand and watch the weary and lost
Cry out for help
I refuse to turn my back
And try and act like all is well

I refuse to stay unchanged
To wait another day, to die to myself
I refuse to make one more excuse

'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse

To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse

I refuse
I refuse

Renaissance Festival

Today, for Mother's Day weekend, I wanted for our whole family to do something together.  So off to the Renaissance Festival we headed.


From the moment we got to the gate we saw the king and queen and subjects, wenches, pirates, elves and all manner of people dressed up.  They called out to us in their accents, hawking their wares and games and playing their flutes and instruments.

We had a great time! My daughter and I rode this hand powered spinning ride, now if you think hand powered means slow, you would be wrong.  It hung by many ropes and they would wind it up tight and away we would go!  My son and husband explored the labyrinth and conquered it to live another day.  We watched acrobats and jugglers, the royal joust by the knights on their beautiful steeds, a birds of prey show and even some guys in a mud pit!  We munched on turkey legs and fried gator tail (though I'm not sure how gator tail fit the renaissance theme..lol)  My son threw shurikens (steel ninja throwing stars) and won some green beads, that he promptly placed around his sister's neck.  She gave him a hug in return, just seeing them interact like that with each other was worth the whole trip.  My son also shot some arrows in the archery section and my daughter bought a ear cuff from a guy wearing elf ears.

Most of the day we passed many, many people dressed in period costume, complete with "milady's" who beseeched us to come hither and tarry as they hawked their wares of yore. Yes, it took us back to another time.  But then there were the moments that they came out of character and would talk to each other or not realize we were around.

It made me think of another way that people dress up and act one way, even that is not how they really are.  How many people dress up in their "Sunday" clothes, dust off their swords (Bibles) and begin to speak "Christianese."  There in church with others watching, they speak the right words and wear the right clothes....yet when outside the church or when they don't think anyone is watching or listening, they revert to their everyday behavior. Not everyone is like that, just as at the festival some never came out of character, some Christians are the same on Sundays as they are the rest of the week.  Only they aren't trying to 'act' in character, but that is their true character.  That is how I strive to be.  I want to be a Christian ALL the time, not just at church activities.

So while today was full of family fun and games and being taken to another time period, it also reminded me that life is not pretend and that how I act should NOT be an 'act', but who I am.