Some of you may have seen the Johnny Cash movie, Walk the Line. When Cash was 12 years old, his older brother died in a tragic accident. Cash’s father took his grief out on Johnny. “Death took the wrong boy,” his father told him time and time again. His brother was the good boy. He should have lived. Johnny was the bad boy. If anyone should have died, it should have been Johnny.

No wonder Johnny Cash spent so many years acting out his rage and his feelings of being “no good.” Can you imagine a father doing that to his son? No wonder that, for many years of his life, Johnny Cash engaged in self-destructive behavior.

It’s a wonder he survived at all. But isn’t it great that, by the end of his life, Johnny Cash discovered a Heavenly Father who accepted him just as he was.

Cash’s situation may have been extreme, but there are many people who feel for one reason or another that they do not belong, that their life has little value. That they are failures who can never measure up. Many of these broken souls rebel in anti-social behavior.

But there are many others who, while they do not rebel, put themselves under an intolerable burden of expectations that they cannot possibly live up to.

These expectations produce both stress and fatigue. To be able to relax and be ourselves is one of the greatest benefits our faith gives us.

Jesus says, COME TO ME, ALL YOU WHO ARE STRUGGLING HARD AND CARRYING HEAVING LOADS, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST…

Soren Kierkegaard was a Danish Christian philosopher. He suffered bouts of extreme melancholy, undoubtedly due to a difficult upbringing. One day he wrote in his Journal, “And now, with God’s help, I shall become myself.”

What a liberating thought: “And now, with God’s help, I shall become myself.” Not what others expect me to be. Not some unrealistic image I have of myself.

No, with God’s help I shall become who I really am. No more stressful pretenses. No more misguided strivings. I will relax and be me.

When we feel accepted by Christ, then for the first time in our life we become free. When we are yoked to Jesus we no longer have to prove to the world that we belong.

This is to say that when we are yoked to Jesus, we know that we are loved, accepted, forgiven.

It is amazing how much inner turmoil can be eliminated from our lives when we know we are loved, accepted, forgiven.

In 1971, a man named Gavin Bryars was living in London, England. He was working with a friend on a documentary about homeless people living in a rough area near a train station in London.

Most of these people had their lives ravaged by alcohol and drugs. Now they lived in desperate conditions. The film makers wanted to tell their story.

It is interesting to note that sometimes, during the making of the documentary, these forlorn and forgotten people would “ham” it up for the cameras. They would break into drunken singing. Sometimes, says Bryars, you would hear bits of opera, sometimes sentimental ballads.

However, one homeless old man who, in fact, did not drink, says Gavin Bryars, was singing something else. And Bryars caught his song on tape.

It turned out the old man was singing a simple religious song that went like this, “Jesus’ blood never failed me yet, never failed me yet, never failed me yet. This one thing I know, for he loves me so.”

Bryars was haunted by the sincerity and simplicity of the old man’s voice. He took the tape home with him and began listening to it. He discovered that the old man’s singing was in perfect pitch with his piano, and so he began improvising a simple accompaniment.

He noticed that the first section of the song, 13 bars in length, formed an effective loop, a track which could be repeated in a slightly unpredictable way.

He took the tape loop to the school where he was working in the Fine Arts Department. He copied the loop onto a continuous reel of tape. This would allow him later to add an orchestrated accompaniment with rich harmonies played by a live ensemble of strings and brass.

The studio in which Bryars was working on his precious tape was next to a busy art studio. He decided to take a break for a cup of coffee. Unintentionally, he left the loop playing and his door open while he went out.

When he came back to the studio he found the normally lively room outside adjacent to the art studio unnaturally subdued.

People were moving about much more slowly than usual and a few were sitting alone, quietly weeping.

He was puzzled until he realized that the tape was still playing, and that they had been overcome by the old man’s singing this simple testimony of faith: “Jesus’ blood never failed me yet, never failed me yet, never failed me yet. This one thing I know, for he loves me so.”

There was something about the voice, something about the song, something about the message of Christ’s love that was striking a chord with these secular art students.

The old man was singing a song they all needed to hear–THE song of love, acceptance, forgiveness.

Bryars went on to produce a powerful recording anchored by this homeless man’s thin but sincere voice.

This homeless man may have had nothing else in his life, but he held to one critical piece of hope that Jesus had died for him, that Jesus loved him regardless of who he was or what he had done, or where he was… that he was loved, accepted, forgiven.

My friend, are you lying awake at night worrying about your future, worrying about your past, wondering whether you measure up, wondering whether you are loved, accepted, forgiven?

Let it go. Let it go . . . at the foot of the cross.

There is one who loves you, one who died for you.

Christ is still in the business of fashioning yokes to ease the burdens of his weary children.

Christ still says to people today, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Pastoral Prayer

We pray for fresh renewal and direction as your church today. We look only to you on this Independence Day Weekend—totally dependent on you. We give thanks for your wisdom guiding us along the way, as we dare to dream of creation renewed, and hope in the promise of wholeness and justice for all humanity.

Empower us, Gracious God, to bring Christ’s message of love into the world to be experienced by others, to live the abundant, transformed life you offer. Hear our prayers for this world that so desperately needs you. Come to the aid of nations and leaders who need your guidance. Come to the aid of those suffering; those standing in harm’s way. We pray for first responders, frontline medical providers, the police, our military and their families; for all of their sacrifices.

Our hearts also break with those in this community; those in poor health; those who are lonely; all in despair, when days are full of fear and uncertainty, and the future empty of hope. Strengthen and sustain them, let your mercy and blessings flow.

You tell us there is nothing that can separate us from your love. Guide us into the assurance of your purpose, your heart; you help us rise from the darkest of circumstances, to find freedom, joy and hope.

God, you entered our human existence to reveal to us a different way to live—the way of deep humility. You’ve called us to love one another, to work together with one heart and mind. Partnered with you, guide us to follow faithfully, with integrity, so that our living and being bring glory and honor to you.

Send peace in our time; for our hearts and our families, peace for our communities; our land, for all the world; peace that abides as we abide in you. For you are God alone, blessed above all others, from whom comes the only peace that endures forever. With thankful hearts, we join our voices, praying the prayer Jesus teaches:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.