Where Life Flows

Sympathetic Resonation

It’s a musical term referring to when a sound coming from one instrument sends vibrations through a nearby instrument, thereby causing it to release sound as well.

I believe we can find sympathetic resonance in people.

Have you ever been close to someone, or observed a grace on their lives, and when you did, something inside you came alive?

These resonations can be hints to us in discovering the grace and purpose the Lord has put on our own lives.

I experience such sympathetic resonation when I observe the life of Bill Gaither.

I grew up listening to the Gaithers with my family. Singing songs with my grandmother and elders in the church as well as with my dad and my younger sister.

While the music releases joy inside me, what I have come to realize is that, even greater than that, sympathetic resonation is occurring.

I admire the fact that while Bill and Gloria Gaither were artists in their own right, writing music and singing it, their ministry was built on HONOR not self-promotion.

The Homecoming sessions and recordings were designed to bring honor to the old. Those who had paved the way and gone before in Southern Gospel music. And at the same time, they looked for the young. They had their eyes open to see the gift in the younger generation as well.

In many ways, Bill and Gloria Gaither became a bridge. A bridge of generations, a bridge of denominational backgrounds, a bridge of musical styles. No matter the differences, they have chosen honor and relationship that transcends. This kind of honor and relationship is truly a demonstration of the love of God.

When I observe this kind of honor that brings people together, there is something inside me that resonates. This is what I was made for - to be a bridge of honor.

What does this have to do with Abundant Living? Well, there is a biblical principle here that life flows through honor. If we truly want to live an abundant life, we will find that life flows to us as we allow life to flow through us in honor of others. The first time we see this in Scripture is in the Ten Commandments. Honor your father and mother is the one commandment given with a promise. The promise is that if we honor it will go well with us and we will live long on the earth.

Often times people turn to health in our physical bodies to determine if it will go well with us or if we will live long. The first thing people look for for when interviewing people who have lived longer than others is what did they do to keep their physical body in shape or maybe even their minds. But if we are looking at promises in Scripture, maybe we should look for this piece of the puzzle. What can we do to honor those around us?

My favorite quote about honor comes from Pastor Bill Johnson who says, "Honor is recognizing who someone is without stumbling over who they are not." What does God say about the people around you. It can be easy to see the irritations, the hurts, the dirt, etc. But a man or woman of honor can look beyond the rough stuff and see the gold of what God has put inside. Here is where life flows.

The more I recognize the gifts in the people around me, the more blessed I become. In this Christmas season, I encourage you to recognize the gift that God has given you - primarily through the gift of His Son Jesus, but also through family and friends.

Jesus, make my life a bridge that recognizes the value in all of the differences, especially when the common denominator is a deep love for your name and ultimately a goal to spend our lives in honor of You.