There Is No Perfect Place
Music by Ron KlusmeierWords by Walter Farquharson
Tune Name: INDIAN HEAD
Lyrics as Poetry
There is no perfect place
in which we might begin;
our desperate cry for other scenes
becomes a kind of sin.
For God expects that we will serve
the neighbor close at hand.
It’s ‘here’ we must as Christians prove,
not just in distant land.
There is no perfect time
the Christian can await.
We’re not allowed to sit it out
in hope of changing fate.
For God expects that we will serve
in this, the present hour.
It’s now God’s promise comes alive
with healing love’s great power.
Words by
Walter FarquharsonCopyright © 1977 by Walter Farquharson
Administered by Hope Publishing Company
Carol Stream, Illinois • USA
Audio Sample for
”There Is No Perfect Place”
One verse played on piano
Scripture References
- Matthew 10:5-25
- Matthew 26:36-45
- John 15:1-17
- Romans 8:28-39
Season, Theme
or Subject
- Christian∶ life
- Courage
- Discipleship
- Life∶ loving life
- Witness
- Work
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Comments About Song
A Reflection by
WALTER FARQUHARSON
For several years the congregations of the Saltcoats-Bredenbury Pastoral Charge where I served as minister were involved in an inter-denominational Lenten program called Ten Days for World Development. One year in the package of study and promotional materials there was a poster that showed what I recall as a corner of a back alley or abandoned paved-over parking lot where, surrounded by junk and disarray, a small seed had germinated, grown and produced a daisy-like flower. The caption on the poster said, “There are no perfect places in which to begin, only real ones.”
Exactly!
Many live by a motto of “Never do today what you can possibly put off until some time in the future”. Especially if the task is daunting and presents many obstacles or objections!
There are so many study programs in churches, communities, even nation-wide or international that never move beyond a “study” or “revisit” mode. Is that not one of the major complaints spoken by indigenous peoples? Missing and murdered indigenous women, unsafe water supplies, neglected and inadequate housing, crises in youth suicides and addictions, over-representation of first nations people and other minorities within our prisons.
In so many areas of our individual and communal lives it is often too easy to delay, to table motions and plans, to “put on hold” until …
In our corporate life (church and otherwise) we often discuss with absolutely no intention of acting or of changing direction. It just is not articulated. The integrity of our communal life begins to change when we say we have considered the options and have decided not to act or have decided to wait two months and then to revisit the question. Too much is determined by default.
Once we have come to the realization that there are no perfect places or ideal times in which to act we require a way forward. The following pattern has proven helpful to some groups within our local churches and communities.
We identify a situation. We study, analyzing by identifying who the players are, what the factors involved might be, what the history of the situation has been.
We ask the question, “What is required of us?” That may or may not be clear. What are options? What are the possible consequences that would likely ensue if we followed option 1, option 2, etc. ? What are the possible consequences of not following option #1, option 2 etc.?
We need also to consider why we believe any particular response is required of us. Is it a matter of preference? Is it a matter of expediency? Is it a matter of necessity? Is there some moral or spiritual obligation?
Then we move into implementation – what is required of whom? By when? By what means? How will we monitor? How will we assess and make necessary adaptations on the way?
Too often the best of intentions die on the vine either because we have tried to sit it out ‘awaiting change of fate’ or we have spent our time crying and praying for a “different scene”.
Jesus spoke clearly to his disciples, “You did not choose me, but I chose you. And, I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last. (John 15:16)