“Save My Life”
Sidewalk Prophets
We’ve met half a dozen times
I know your name I know you don’t know mine
But I won’t hold that against you
You come here every Friday night
I take your order and try to be polite
And hide what I’ve been going through
If you looked me right in the eye
Would you see the pain deep inside
Would you take the time to
Tell me what I need to hear
Tell me that I’m not forgotten
Show me there’s a God
Who can be more than all I’ve ever wanted
‘Cause right now I need a little hope
I need to know that I’m not alone
Maybe God is calling you tonight
To tell me something
That might save my life
I’m the pastor at your church
For all these years you’ve listened to my words
You think I know all the answers
But I’ve got doubts and questions too
Behind this smile I’m really just like you
Afraid and tired and insecure
If you look me right in the eye
Would you see the real me inside
Would you take the time to
Tell me what I need to hear
Tell me that I’m not forgotten
Show me there’s a God
Who can be more than all I’ve ever wanted
‘Cause right now I need a little hope
I need to know that I’m not alone
Maybe God is calling you tonight
To tell me something
That might save my life
Save my life
I am just like everyone
Jesus I need You, I need Your Love
To save my life
Tell me what I need to hear
Tell me that I’m not forgotten
Show me there’s a God
Who can be more than all I’ve ever wanted
‘Cause right now I need a little hope
I need to know that I’m not alone
Maybe God is calling you tonight
To tell me something
That might save my life
I had heard bits and pieces of this song and then finally heard the whole thing today. I guess it grabbed my attention because it’s often bothered me how we see and know people without really seeing and knowing people. For the most part, we don’t pay enough attention to notice whether a person is hurting inside because we’re busy. After all, we have dreams and aspirations; we have jobs; we have our own problems we don’t know what to do with, etc., etc… So, we see names and faces the majority of the time.
Personally, I’m the type of person who’s typically not going to reach out to anyone when I’m hurting or struggling with something. (Fortunately, I have an awesome sister who can read me like a book and reaches out to me, but then sometimes I still shrug her off, so…) And, I think there are a lot of people like that. Although they won’t admit it, they walk around desperately hoping and desiring for someone to notice and say the right words. (I know I’ve been there, and I think pretty much everyone has.) Sometimes it’s a non-Christian who’s ready to hear that Jesus can save his life, or sometimes it’s a Christian who just needs reminded that Jesus is still saving his life, that Jesus can meet his deepest need. But, everyone’s too busy or too self-absorbed to notice and to help.
To avoid being a hypocrite, I’m not any better at reaching out to help people than I am at reaching out to people for help. For starters, it requires oral communication most of the time, which has never been mistaken for being one of my top skills. So, if, and it’s a big if, I notice a need, then comes knowing what to say and actually saying it, which is, well, terrifying. But, it’s abundantly clear from scripture that the call to be a Christian is a call to reach out to broken, hurting people. It’s a call to see and meet needs and by doing that demonstrate the love of Christ. So, I want to be more observant. I want to see people, not merely names and faces. Then, I want to be wise enough to know how to reach out to them and bold enough to actually do it. And, those desires are ones Christians individually and the church as a whole need to pursue with greater passion in order to see lives saved.
justsamjw 