Put your hand on your mouth
As I was driving in the car I heard this song by Suzanne Vega on the radio. My first response was: How can you write such a song? Songs are normally about love and other good things, but this one is not about nice things at all.
As the song continued I was waiting for the turnaround. Yes, I expected that the magic wand would be waved through the air and the abuse would stop, but I waited in vain, because the shocking words were repeated again and again:
My name is Luka
I live on the second floor
I live upstairs from you
Yes, I think you’ve seen me before
If you hear something late at night
Some kind of trouble, some kind of fight
Just don’t ask me what it was
Just don’t ask me what it was
Just don’t ask me what it was
I think it’s ’cause I’m clumsy
I try not to talk too loud
Maybe it’s because I’m crazy
I try not to act too proud
They only hit until you cry
After that you don’t ask why
You just don’t argue anymore
You just don’t argue anymore
You just don’t argue anymore
Yes, I think I’m okay
I walked into the door again
If you ask that’s what I’ll say
And it’s not your business anyway
I guess I’d like to be alone
With nothing broken, nothing thrown
Just don’t ask me how I am
Just don’t ask me how I am
My name is Luka
I live on the second floor
I live upstairs from you
Yes, I think you’ve seen me before
If you hear something late at night
Some kind of trouble, some kind of fight
Just don’t ask me what it was
Just don’t ask me what it was
Just don’t ask me what it was
They only hit until you cry
After that you don’t ask why
You just don’t argue anymore
You just don’t argue anymore
You just don’t argue anymore
How far have we and our humanity become removed from what God wants us to be? We are quick to anger and together with the first angry word that slips out, love slip away.
Ashamed I hang my head as I read these words: 2I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. 3And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.
Oh …
Liste to song here
Scripture
Reflection
Do you sometimes put your hand on your mouth?
Does love sometimes pour from it?
What must you do differently?
Prayer
Father, I realize again my inability to live right. I confess it. I cannot make it on my own. Amen
