Sermon: The Journey of Change, Love, and Mercy
Introduction: The song you’ve written reflects a profound internal struggle—one that many of us face. It speaks of love, regret, self-awareness, and the deep longing for change without causing harm. As we explore the themes in this song, we’ll weave together Christian Libertarian Ideology, modern human perspectives, and scripture to understand the journey of personal growth, the complexity of love, and the mysterious mercy that God shows us in our brokenness.
She Doesn’t Know My Brain, She Can’t See In My Mind:
The feeling of not being fully known by others is one of the greatest challenges in human relationships. In many ways, we feel isolated, believing no one can truly understand the thoughts and struggles within our minds. Yet, God sees and knows everything about us. Psalm 139:1-4 says, “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.”
God’s intimate knowledge of us contrasts with human relationships, which are often limited by misunderstandings. The pain of not being known can lead us to withdraw, as this song suggests—“I feel like I’m a bird that can’t fly”—and yet, there is hope in God’s omniscient love. We may not be fully understood by others, but we are fully known and loved by Him.
In Christian Libertarianism, this concept of being known reflects the idea that while we are individuals responsible for our own paths, we are never alone. God’s presence guides us, providing the freedom to be ourselves without losing the essence of who we are in Christ.
Younger Me Couldn’t Feel Love So Right:
There’s an acknowledgment in the song that, in our youth, we often don’t fully grasp the depth of love. We stumble through relationships, sometimes hurting others or being hurt in the process. This realization is key to personal growth and echoes Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 13:11, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.”
In the maturing process, we begin to understand love in a fuller, more selfless way. Love becomes not just about personal feelings but about the well-being of others. The song’s reflection on younger days reveals this evolution—“Younger me couldn’t feel love so right… Younger me wasn’t bright.”
From a Christian Libertarian perspective, the journey of growth and change is personal and must be voluntary. No one can force you to mature; it is a process of taking responsibility for your actions and learning from past mistakes. This liberty to evolve is God-given, and through it, we discover true love, which is patient, kind, and enduring.
Strange Mercy Is Shown Through Calloused Eyes:
This line is rich with meaning. It reminds us that mercy is often unexpected, sometimes coming from the least likely places. The Bible is full of examples of mercy being shown to those who didn’t deserve it—most notably through Jesus Christ. As Ephesians 2:4-5 tells us, “But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”
This strange mercy is also evident in how God uses the calloused and broken parts of ourselves and others to bring about healing. Though our eyes may have become hardened through life’s experiences, God can soften our hearts and show us a mercy that transforms. The song’s acknowledgment of this reflects the Christian understanding that no matter how calloused we become, God’s mercy is still available.
Mercy, in Christian Libertarian thought, must be freely given and received. Just as God does not force His mercy upon us, we must choose to offer it to others. It is through mercy that we transcend the bitterness that life can bring and embrace the freedom to forgive and be forgiven.
Feel the Sunshine, Feel the Warm:
This phrase speaks of the beauty and simplicity of love. The sunshine and warmth represent the peaceful, comforting nature of true love, which we long to hold onto. Love is a gift from God—an embodiment of His nature. 1 John 4:16 tells us, “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”
In relationships, this warmth is something we chase, sometimes losing ourselves in the pursuit. Yet, true warmth comes from God’s love, and when we align our hearts with His, we find the peace we seek.
Watching a Ripe Apple Rot:
There is a haunting sense of inevitability in this line. The image of watching a ripe apple rot symbolizes the transient nature of life, love, and time. We are often caught in the paradox of wanting to hold onto something beautiful but knowing that it will decay or change. This echoes Ecclesiastes 3:1-2: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot.”
We are reminded that nothing in this world lasts forever, but through God, we are offered eternity. Christian Libertarianism recognizes that while we are free to enjoy the beauty of this world, we must also be aware that it is temporary. Our hope lies not in holding onto fleeting moments but in the eternal promise of God.
Conclusion:
The song you’ve written reflects the human journey of love, regret, and growth, interwoven with themes of mercy, self-awareness, and longing. In life, we often feel misunderstood and isolated, but God knows us intimately and extends His strength and mercy in ways we cannot comprehend.
Through the lens of Christian Libertarianism, we see that while we are free individuals, our true fulfillment comes from walking with God and embracing His love. As we grow and mature, we learn that love is not merely a feeling but a choice—a commitment to care for others, to show mercy, and to seek God’s guidance through all the complexities of life.
Let us take this song’s message to heart: to embrace change, to seek mercy, and to find warmth in the love that God offers us, even when life feels calloused and uncertain. Through Him, we are led into brighter days. Amen.
She doesn’t know my brain She can’t see in my mind
I feel like I’m a bird that can’t fly And I won’t make her cry
She won’t do the same I wish that I could simply change
Without breaking the heart of a gentle dame
Younger me couldn’t feel falling in love so right
Younger me wasn’t right
Carry along through the streets of Charleston
I think I may just lose my mind
Strange mercy is shown through calloused eyes
Younger me couldn’t feel love so right
Younger me wasn’t bright
I sometimes laugh out loud to the thought
Of watching a ripe apple rot
Feel the sunshine, feel the warm
Or the cool of the night, just to hold
Another like you, it would be great
Your touch steals away
Feel the sunshine, feel the warm
Or the cool of the night, just to hold
Another like you, it would be great
Your touch steals me away
Your touch steals me away
I couldn’t feel for a love so right
Younger me wasn’t nice
As Always, God Bless,
James Arthur Ferguson
FergusonPoetryProject LLC 
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