The Maker of Noses

Like many of you, I enjoy music, and I look to it for inspiration and support. My taste in music is quite eclectic, ranging from hymns through jazz and rock. My favorite Contemporary Christian singer/songwriter is Rich Mullins. His work is original, unique and thought provoking. The world lost a great soul when he was taken home in 1997, in a tragic accident, at the age of forty six.

One of his songs is, The Maker of Noses. Many song writers have written of that place and time when the world will live together in peace and harmony. John Lennon's, Imagine, comes to mind. Yet there's no answer, only hopes and dreams.

The writer of The Maker of Noses longs for, among other things ...

I believe there is a place
Where people live in perfect peace
Where there is food on every plate
Where work is rewarded and rest is sweet

Where the color of your skin won't get you in or keep you out
Where justice reigns and truth finally wins
It's hard fought war against fear and doubt
And everyone I know, wants to go there too

... but when he looks to the world for answers ...

But when I ask them how to do it they seem so confused
Do I turn to the left? Do I turn to the right?
When I turn to the world, they gave me this advice

... they tell him ...

Well, they said, "Boy you just follow your heart"
But my heart just led me into my chest
They said, "Follow your nose"
But the direction changed every time I went and turned my head
And they said, "Boy you just follow your dreams"
But my dreams were only misty notions

... Finally, he turns to the One who gives life, the One who made his nose, and the One who gives him his dreams ...

But the Father of hearts and the Maker of noses
And the Giver of dreams, He's the one I have chosen
And I will follow Him

And, like the writer of this song, I choose to follow the One worth following, the One in whom all wisdom and love abounds, and from whom wisdom and love is freely given. Then ...

And oh, I hear the voice of a million dreams
Then I wake in the world that I'm partly made of
And the world that is partly my own making

And oh, I hear the song of a heart set free
That will not be kept down by the fury and sound
Of a world that is wasting away but keeps saying

Saying, "Boy you just follow your heart" ...

My heart is set free as it is held captive by my Lord, my Bridegroom, my Savior and my Friend. I know someday the world will be a wonderful, wonder filled place for all people. But until then, it is my responsibility to fill it with as much light and love that I am capable of. I am to be salt. Salt that adds savor. Salt that preserves. Not salt in someone else's wounds.

So in a world that says, be all you can be, while telling me I can't be who I am, I pray for strength and guidance and grace, and I look to Him who made my nose, and trust Him to lead me to green pastures and still waters. Hope to see y'all there.