“Empty” Praise
The word “empty” can be used as a verb or an adjective. The adjective can imply meaningless, purposeless, pointless. The verb can mean to drain, clear out, or pour out. So why empty praise? It seems contradictory. In this space, I choose to identify with the verb rather than the adjective. My human nature tends towards often choosing to focus on the meaningless or purposeless things of life, so it’s a struggle.
The flip-side of this phrase comes from “Be Thou My Vision,” my favorite hymn. I vividly remember a challenging season of life where I felt like my identity was being robbed of me and this verse of this song came to mind. It was as if I was being pressed to choose if I can honestly sing along and reflect on them as my own words. It’s not easy.
So I have dedicated this space to some aspect of pouring out my thoughts and musings on life, or emptying myself, so that in Christ, I might gain a more fullness of life. I aspire that Christ-centered living would be my reality: in my heart, my mind and my way of life as a wife, mother, sister and friend.
From “Be Thou My Vision”…
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
1.
mikerucker | August 12, 2008 at 11:07 am
BTMV is a favorite hymn of mine, too – the melody, primarily.
interesting take on ‘empty’ as a verb. the church my family attends has music that’s a bit too emotive and Jesus-as-lover-ish to me – especially the female singers up front who … well … i’m not sure how to describe it, but it makes me quite uncomfortable.
like i’m in someone’s bedroom where three is definately (or, for some, ‘usually’…) a crowd…
and i do all i can to stay ‘focused’ on why i’m singing, and let them be off in their own real or imagined world.
still, there’s always that feeling or thought: what are they doing that makes their r’ship with God seem much more intimate than mine?
my current guess is that my world isn’t big enough for both my ego and my God…
but perhaps i’m being redundant.
mike rucker
fairburn, georgia, usa
http://mikerucker.wordpress.com
2.
hugh grant | May 19, 2009 at 12:18 pm
I am reminded of the Miss U.S.A. pageant who answered truthfully about her views on marriage….I believe it was Miss California. she wasn’t compromising for an temporary crown or man’s empty praise but looking forward to the crown of life that only comes from Jesus! God Bless her for standing firm!
3.
kimcintyre | May 19, 2009 at 12:40 pm
I am glad that something resonated with you. It’s definitely a battle, one that I am not prone to feeling all that victorious in, for myself.
I think I’m actually a little challenged to completely support the comparison about the Miss California situation because on one side of things, she did stand firm on her beliefs, yet on the other hand, she went ahead and had the Miss USA pageant pay for her “breast enlargement” expenses so that she would feel more confident in the swimwear portion of the show. Ugh. I’m not expecting perfection from anyone, by any means.
It is so difficult it is to live out “Thou and Thou ONLY first in my heart…” It’s a complicated thing…that is, wholly following Jesus. I can be pretty stubborn and territorial when it comes to surrender. We’re all under the Mercy.