Clanging cymbals

We have a drummer in the house. I use that term loosely. He's 3 and he's sensory seeking. And he drums everything. The cymbals are his favorite. Good thing they're sturdy. You might remember that great buy we found at a thrift store back in June?

He loved that thing to death. All that's left are the cymbals and one small drum.

That's it.

Lucky for him he's figured out how to make a cymbals sound with his mouth so he can take it with him wherever he goes. Not so lucky for anyone around; his cymbals come with spit. They have caused others great discomfort. Spitting and cymbals don't go well together. Just sayin'.

So maybe, with the three year old drummer in the house, that's why the phrase "resounding gong and clanging cymbal" has been going round and round my head for the past few weeks, prompting a new study of 1 Corinthians 13. It's probably in a tie with Psalm 23 for the most quoted chapter of Scripture, known by Christians and non-Christians alike. I remember memorizing it in elementary school. King James Version, of course. I recall a middle school assignment where we were to take 1 Corinthians 13 and make it fit a particular career. And who can forget the Good Doctor reciting this passage as part of his proposal? Not me. Especially since the book and chapter are inscribed inside our wedding bands.

But oh how quickly we forget. I'm trying. I really am. I'm trying to pause before speaking or commenting. Trying to pause before correcting. Trying to respond out of love, not impatience, anger, or pride. I, for one, am thankful that there is grace to cover me on the days I am only a resounding gong and clanging cymbal.

And for earplugs when someone else's gongs and cymbals are clashing!

And no, I did not plan this for Valentine's Day. I've been mulling over this gongs and cymbals phrase and finally had a few moments to sit and write. And then I remembered what day it is. Yup, I'm that romantic. But never fear, Good Doctor, there's hope. I just might have gotten a little misty-eyed when there was a proposal on the Today show this morning. It was just a little bit, but it was there. Maybe next year's my year?

1 Corinthians 13Amplified Bible

If I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such as is inspired by God’s love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

And if I have prophetic powers (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God’s love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody).

Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or in order that I may glory, but have not love (God’s love in me), I gain nothing.

Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) anddoes not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy ]the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth].

For our knowledge is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect), and our prophecy (our teaching) is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect).

But when the complete and perfect (total) comes, the incomplete and imperfect will vanish away (become antiquated, void, and superseded).

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside.

For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood [by God].

And so faith, hope, love abide [faith—conviction and belief respecting man’s relation to God and divine things; hope—joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; love—true affection for God and man, growing out of God’s love for and in us], these three; but the greatest of these is love.