Cocooning

I'm not a huge fan of Christian radio. But occasionally I will flip on KTIS while I make the children lunch. Darrell Evan's song "Trading My Sorrows" has always struck a chord with me, and while it plays I find myself dancing, clapping, and shimmying through the kitchen with rare, abandoned joy.

Interesting timing: I heard the song again today while I was cleaning my bedroom. I hate cleaning and it usually takes what little time and energy I have to keep the rest of my house in order. And because I figure that nobody has reason to look in my bedroom, it becomes the one safe place where I "stash" things--left over boxes of Walk With Me and Play With Me, posters from book signings, half-finished knitting projects, stacks of library books, scrapbooking supplies, bags of outgrown clothes for the kids that need sorting, etc.

It's such a metaphor for some of my spiritual habits: stuffing things where I think nobody else can see them, my soul often cluttered and neglected. It felt good to clean a room that's long required it while singing, dancing, and reminding myself that every day I can trade in my shame and sorrows for the joy of the Lord.

Darrell Evans "Trading My Sorrows"

I'm trading my sorrows
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord

I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord

And we say
Yes Lord Yes Lord, Yes Yes Lord
Yes Lord Yes Lord, Yes Yes Lord
Yes Lord Yes Lord, Yes Yes Lord, Amen

I'm pressed but not crushed
persecuted not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed
I'm blessed beyond the curse
for his promise will endure
And his joy's gonna be my strength

Though the sorrow may last for the night
His joy comes with the morning

Lord, may your Joy come and be my strength again!