Brilliant … But Bouncy

I Can Only Imagine.

I went to see one of those “faith-based dramas” last week.

For the uninitiated, faith-based dramas are the movies that are kinda sappy like Hallmark movies, but are allowed to mention God in a way that doesn’t require profanity. When the Game Stands Tall is one of my favorites, because I can watch any kind of football movie. But I also really enjoyed the one I saw last week: I Can Only Imagine.

The movie is based on the true backstory for a Christian song I’d never heard. The song, not coincidentally, is called “I Can Only Imagine.” It was a hit on the Christian charts back in 1999 – two decades before the movie was made.

In one scene in the movie, the main character has a revelation, looks at the sky and says, “Okay, God.” And then he writes the song.

Hm, I thought, while watching the movie. I used to have revelations like that all the time. I wonder what happened?

For a few seconds, I remembered how I’d felt truly connected to God for many years. I remembered shooting stars that changed my life, hearing answers to my prayers from friends and sometimes strangers, and listening to songs on the radio that were so obviously meant for only me.

In fact, when I was in high school, I used to “talk” to God using the radio. I would ask a question and then turn on the radio, and follow whatever guidance I got. Most of the time, the guidance was clearer than the sky on a bright July day.

And I lived like that for a long, long time.

But recently, I fell out of the “habit” of asking God for guidance. I’ve been too busy thinking I know everything already, too busy making plans because I also know what’s best for everyone else. When it comes right down to it, I say many prayers of thanks, but I’ve just been too busy lately doing stuff to ask for much guidance.

All of this occurred to me during the 14-second clip at the movie theater.

Then, I pretty much forgot about it. I left the theater and got something to eat. I texted my parents and my kids on my cell phone. I drove around for awhile, killing time while I allowed the kids to have the house to themselves (at their request). Finally, I started driving home.

As I drove, I remembered that moment in the theater, and I wondered again what happened to my personal connection with God. I didn’t feel entirely disconnected, but I didn’t feel totally connected, either.

Almost as a joke I thought, I wonder if God would play that movie song for me on the radio. I didn’t say the words out loud, and I sure didn’t expect anything to happen. But I turned on the radio and flipped to the Christian radio station, just in case.

And exactly at that moment, just starting to play, was the song, “I Can Only Imagine.”

Just like that, God was back.