Reflection #1 on "Alright" by Casting Pearls (Bryan Olesen)  [song lyrics]

• originally released by solidsounds.org, August 2005
• author: Mindy K.
• scripture reference: Psalm 22:22-23

	From the album "Casting Pearls" (2004/05) Read the song lyrics...

You know my heart;
You know my soul;
You know my comings and goings,
You know it all.

The other day I had what some people call a "Jonah day." You know, one of those days where nothing seems to go right and everything seems to go wrong.

I started out by oversleeping. Then, of course, I got behind the slowest driver in the city, with no way to pass.

Once I got to work, things didn't improve. I had been working on a huge project and was scheduled to complete it that day, but someone higher up sent it back wanting major changes that would put everything way behind schedule. Then, while trying to finish something else, my computer refused to work. I had to continually reboot, which of course took more time than I had. And to top it all off, the stress gave me a horrible headache, which made my mood even more sour than it had been before.

We've all had our "Jonah days." And it's easy (at least it is for me) to let the small things that go wrong keep me down and feeling like nothing will ever go right again!

But, as Casting Pearls sings in their song "Alright," there is a light at the end of the tunnel. No matter what happens throughout my day, whether that be a crashing computer or getting stuck in traffic, I have a lot to live for and a lot to sing about--because I know Jesus. He has forgiven my sins and given me a new life here on earth, not to mention being able to spend eternity with Him in heaven.

In Psalm 71 it says:

"I will praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
O Holy One of Israel.
My lips will shout for joy
when I sing praise to you--
I, whom you have redeemed" (vv. 22-23, NIV).

So next time you have a "Jonah day," or any other day for that matter, remember all that Christ has done for you and all that you have to live for. Then you can sing along with Casting Pearls:

Everything is gonna be just fine
You know that nothing can stop me now
Rains fallin' from the sky but my day is shining bright
This love has gone and turned my world upside down

--Mindy K.

Scripture Reference: Psalm 22:22-23