Audience of One

Dear Readers,

Recently I was disappointed when things did not turn out as I had hoped, and I felt like people let me down. I then heard a song by Sara Groves entitled “This Journey Is My Own”. The phrase in the song that captured my attention was repeated several times in one of the stanzas. It is the following:

And now I live and I breathe for an audience of one.
Now I live and I breathe for an audience of one.
Now I live and I breathe for an audience of one.
Because I know this journey is my own.

The song addresses man’s attempt to gain “advice” and “approval” from others, and “to make a good impression”. Sara Groves points out, however, that there is “an audience of one” whose advice and approval is to be sought in this journey of life. He is the One for whom our quest should be to make a good impression.

How often I forget this. How often I feel hurt when other persons have not responded as I had hoped. How often I forget to seek the One whose advice and approval is steady and sure.

Other people are very important in our lives! Jesus emphasized this in John 13:34-35 (NIV) when he said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Also, Paul addressed extensively the importance of loving others in I Corinthians 13. Approval from others, on the other hand, should be looked on as a gift, not a given.

Therefore, I pray for myself, my family and friends, and persons reading this blog to seek advice and approval from, and to make a good impression for “an audience of one”.

See you next time,
Arlen