By Lisa G. Smith, Guest Columnist
The Picayune Item
PICAYUNE —
The word Kum ba ya originated in an African American song in the 1930’s, in one place it is said to mean, ”Come By Here.” A song will go through my head sometimes, and I later find it has some spiritual meaning for my life as this one did. In the spring of this year while on house-sitting, I found myself singing Kum ba ya a lot. At first I didn’t known what it meant I just knew it was an old folk song.
This job was the first time I had ever been totally alone away from family. I left my home, family, pets, security and all the comfort zone living that went with that. I wasn’t far away, but this was me. I was the person who had always lived next door to her children and right down the road from her parents. I won’t even tell you how far away I was because you’d just laugh at me. To me it felt far!
After the first two weeks where I sung loudly, danced freely, got up when I wanted, left when I wanted, coming and going as I chose. Then, the old me hit the fan. The me that was made up of so many pieces of her upbringing, family, old thoughts systems and patterns. There was an explosion inside me. I was in pieces. I then, proceeded to explain to Jesus that I had changed my mind; I neither liked being alone nor wanted it.
I was not prepared for the new me that was rolling in on the verse of a song. I kept singing and did Jesus ever come by here?! He challenged all I had thought I was.
I thought I wanted freedom but the minute it was offered, maybe I didn’t want it after all or did I? I was confused so I found a swing, under a gazebo, by a lake with ducks, and I sat very still. I watched the hawks in the air over me soaring, swooping and having a glorious time in their freedom. They didn’t seem to care that they were thrown out there in the wide world alone to fend for themselves; they were just enjoying the flight. From where I sat they looked happy. I did not witness scared and insecure hawks the whole week I sat in that swing. I sat, just swinging till my terror at the new me that was evolving calmed down and I could breathe again.
Finally, I let out the breathe I had been holding my whole life. In a lot of ways the song overcame me, and this time the sweetest bliss with Jesus I’ve ever known, as he really came near and rocked my soul. It was if he hovered right over me in that swing and poured himself Jesus style over me, and when it was over I was not afraid of the new me or the new life God had prepared for me where I live with more freedom than before.
Make it a habit to ask Jesus to Kum ba ya and it guarantees your going to get some happy, peace and fun along with all the other things that make up what we call life.
Philippians 4:11 “Not that I want, for I have learned to be content in whatever I am.”
