Daddy's on the Loose!

Deuteronomy 23:14
For the Lord your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you.  Your camp must be holy, so that he will not see among you anything indecent and turn away from you.

"They say Aslan is on the move.  Perhaps he has already landed," whispered the Beaver.  Edmund felt a sensation of mysterious horror.  Peter felt brave and adventurous.  Susan felt as if some delightful strain of music had just floated by.  And Lucy got that feeling when you realize it's the beginning of summer. ~C. S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

I pick up our granddaughter, Virginia Rose, last Friday to take her to Chick-fil-A for lunch and on to Chuck E. Cheese for a special play time.  Oh, how she loves it!

On the long drive there, Virginia is quieter than usual, so I suggest we listen to some music.  She readily agrees.  Now I must confess, my friends, that the only stations I have programmed into my car radio are a local Christian music channel and a news/talk one.  So I'm hoping the tunes on the Christian station will be as inspiring as the songs on Virginia's VBS CD, which is stashed out of reach in my car's hatch.

God does not disappoint!

We hear a song called, God is on the Move, by 7eventh Time Down, and it strikes an immediate chord (Yes, pun intended!) with both of us.  By the second chorus, Virginia and I are singing along, and I know this is one I have to share with my husband, Danny, to see if he likes it enough to learn it and include it in our contemporary worship service.

When we get home, Virginia settles down at our dining room table with her Uncle Giovanni to build with Legos.  Danny is working at home this day, so I ask him if he break for a few moments to hear this new (at least, new to me) song.  He's all ears.

I find it on YouTube without a hitch.  As the music plays, Virginia once again joins in on the catchy chorus - God is on the move, on the move.  Hallelujah!  But by the chorus rolls around again, she has unexpectedly modified it - God is on the loose, on the loose.  Hallelujah!

"Virginia," I correct her, "the word is move not loose."

"I know, Gammie," she says, matter-of-factly, "but I want to say loose."

I contemplate this sudden shift, comparing how I envision God acting in the ways these words suggest.  When I think of Him moving, I see a methodical march forward, a steady and purposeful pace.  But when I think of God being on the loose, my perspective shifts dramatically.  God is everywhere at once, showing up when least expected, uncontrollable, wild.  Acting with purpose?  Yes!  But not in any way we could ever predict.  Suddenly, I feel as though riding high and free on the back of Aslan himself!

The song ends, but Virginia, bent over her Legos, still repeats the chorus.  And it's changed yet again!

"Daddy's on the loose, on the loose.  Hallelujah!"

To say you could floor me with a feather is the all-time understatement.  Then in a flash, two and two come together.

About a year ago, Virginia asks me what God is like.  I tell her, "God is your Father, your Daddy, in Heaven.  Just like your earthly daddy loves you as his child, God loves you that much and more."

Virginia has made the connection seamlessly.  And this Gammie can't stop smiling.

Daddy is, indeed, loose in Virginia's heart.

Is He in yours?

Instead of a prayer today, I'm offering the song, God is on the Move.  I hope you will sing and praise the Lord along with 7eventh Time Down, and if you are so inclined, substitute Virginia's lyrics when appropriate.  God bless!