Feelin’ Groovy

Romans 8: 31-38  Luke 1: 37

 

 

          In the fall of 1966, Simon & Garfunkel released an album entitled Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme. It was only their third album, but it was destined to reach triple platinum status. One of the songs on that album was called the 59^th Street Bridge Song. It’s probably known better by its most famous line: “Feelin’ groovy.” Written by a young twenty five year old man named Paul Simon, it was one of a number of famous songs on that album.

            In the fall of 1966, I was a freshman in college. I was trying to find my way in the world. I was away from home, a college freshman, a cafeteria worker, a football manager, a Navy midshipman, a student. I was a busy young man, hurrying everywhere to be on time, turn in my assignments, get to the football field, get to work, get to drill, get to class. I was moving fast, going somewhere but not at all sure where it was that I was going.

          Paul Simon had spent the previous year in England. He came back with a number of songs, songs that expressed not only where he was, but where the country was. The album that included “Feelin’ Groovy” also featured “Homeward Bound” and “7 O’clock News/Silent Night.” Those of us familiar with those ballads may recall a time when our country seemed poised to implode. The Vietnam War was ripping and dividing us and nothing was sure anymore. And then this album came out, and at least for many young adults, it perfectly described their anguish. There was the agony of the 7 O’clock News, and then there was the absolute joy of youth reflected in this song about the Queensboro Bridge over the East River in New York City. Simon’s lyrics start like this:

                            Slow down, you move too fast

                           You got to make the morning last

                           Just kicking down the cobble stones

                           Looking for fun and feelin’ groovy

 

 It was an appeal to a lighter mood, a mood of carefree existence where there is time to stop and watch the flowers grow, time to feel the sun on the back of your neck and know that things are under control.

          The Apostle Paul might have had very much in common with Paul Simon. In the eighth chapter of Romans, he tells his audience “If God is with us, who can be against us?” Don’t be fooled by the question mark, for what Paul is saying is not a question. Paul is making a statement. If God is with us, who can be against us? There is no government, no social unit, no army, no rule of law, no person, no organization that can do permanent damage to us if God is with us! We may be hurt, we may be imprisoned, we may be cast aside, we may even be isolated from all that we know, but we cannot lose the true battle of life, for God is with us.

          Have you ever noticed that Paul didn’t seem to be in a hurry? He went to lots of places, visited lots of people, spoke wherever he went. He made three missionary journeys. But his comments in Scripture are generally framed in longing to be somewhere while he continues to be wherever he is. He doesn’t talk about having to leave to be somewhere else. He always seems to be in the moment wherever he is.

          Jesus was like that. Remember his admonition to his disciples in Matthew 6 and Luke 12? He talked about ravens and the lilies of the field. He reminded them that they were not to worry, that all the nations of the world seek after food and drink and other necessities, and that God knows that we need such things. Jesus said quit worrying, those things will be provided. Jesus said “Instead, seek the kingdom, and these things will be added to you.”

          But we have so much to do. We have promises to keep. We have responsibilities. We have people who count on us. Yes, we do. That is our mantra. That is what we say to ourselves as we put off our daily devotions or morning prayers. We have promises to keep. We are serious about our obligations. And the song says:

                          Hello lamp post, what cha knowin’?

                         I’ve come to watch your flowers growin’

                        Ain’t cha got no rhymes for me?

                        Doot-in doo-doo  feelin’ groovy

 

          Paul goes on in his advice to the Roman Christians. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” Certainly not the weapons of the world. Paul worries not about sword or danger or persecution or a host of other maladies. To these things he says that we are more than conquerors. But it is of the greatest importance to finish Paul’s thought. Yes, we are more than conquerors…”through him who loves us.” We conquer not through our own deeds. We find the rest we seek not through our own acts. We accomplish that which God has elected for us through him who loves us.

          One of the reasons this old song caught my interest again is that is seems to prick my desire to be more in the moment, to feel groovy, as it were. Does the Bible allow for such attitudes? I think it does. I think that today’s passage from Romans and Jesus’ comments about the worries of the day are there in part to prompt us to live in the moment, to find the time to spend with God. Cindy and I read a devotion book entitled Jesus Calling, written by Sarah Young. I commend it to you. I have found it very compelling. In that little book this week is this thought: “Much, much stress results from your wanting to make things happen before their times have come…ask Me [Jesus] to show you the path forward moment by moment. Instead of dashing headlong toward the goal, let Me set the pace. Slow down and enjoy the journey in My presence.”

          The last verse of the song goes like this:

                     I’ve got no deeds to do, no promises to keep

                    I’m dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep

                   Let the morning time drop all its petals on me

                   Life, I love you, all is groovy.

 

          Life, I love you, all is groovy. It could come right out of Paul’s letter to the Romans, for this is part and parcel of Paul’s message. “Who will separate us from the love of Christ?...for I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

          Slow down. You move too fast. Why don’t you slow down and make the moment last? We are creatures of God. We are created in his image and our chief end is to glorify him. In our essence, we are not Smiths or Jones. We are not Jewish or gentile or black or white. We are not Americans, We are not Presbyterians. We are ecclesia, the gathering. We are ecclesia, those called out. We are the people of God, the Israel of faith. We are not about destination. Our destination is already defined, marked off and waiting for us. We are all about journey.

          In the first chapter of Luke’s gospel, a naïve, innocent teenager engaged to be married is visited by an angel. She asks how she can become pregnant with the Son of God. The angel answers her. “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you…For nothing will be impossible with God.”

It’s the same with us as it was with Mary. Nothing is impossible with God and nothing can separate us from his love. You just have to dismount from this world long enough to notice what the real journey looks like.

        Slow down. You move too fast. Enjoy the journey.  Make the moment last.