Today’s confession is a good one in that it is something little known – even to those who know me well.  It is a well kept secret.  But difficult times call for equally difficult confessions.  So here goes.  I confess – Jeremiah is a good friend of mine.  I further confess that yes, Jeremiah is a bullfrog.  And finally I confess – I love his music on a summer night.

You see, Jeremiah and his bullfrog band of brothers have been bringing their brand of music to the world on summer nights for as long as I can remember.  And when they do, they bring joy to the world.  They bring joy to me.

Lately though, I’ve been worried about Jeremiah and his band of bullfrogs. They’ve been in the pot along with all the other frogs (post #31) and now I’m wondering if they will be released in time for their summer concert schedule to take place as previously planned.

The voices of Jeremiah and his band bring so much joy to the world that I would hate to hear of their voices being silenced for the first time ever.  How I will hear of this is by not hearing their voices in the silence of a summer night.

Perhaps Jeremiah and friends are still in the proverbial pot.  I ponder this possibility even as I long to be released from the pot myself.  We are told our release is imminent, just be patient in the pot.  Get comfortable and enjoy.

Remember, life pre-pot?  Life outside the pot wasn’t all that great, now was it?  I mean yaw’ll had to work for a living, right?  And you were really busy, right? running all around, saying that you could use some down time, a vacation, a rest, a respite from your busy schedules . . .

Well, this pot we are all treading water and waiting in certainly seems relaxing as it gets warmer and all our needs are promised to be met by the pot stirring experts who have our best interests at heart.  So reassuring, I think I’ll take a nap and a sauna  . . .

Still I miss the music,  not just Jeremiah’s music, but all the music the free world outside the pot was filled with.  From concert halls to churches to street performers to crickets, birds and bullfrogs – the world outside the pot was filled with every kind of music every hour of every day.  I miss that.  There is no solace in this silence.

The thing is, if Jeremiah is allowed out of the pot (he won’t have the will or ability to jump out on his own) when he is put out, he won’t be returning to the reeds and the rushes of his beloved pond.  No, that wouldn’t be wise, the pond is no longer safe.  Jeremiah, along with all the other frogs, if they are going to leave the pot, must observe the new rules and restrictions  (masks, social distancing, etc.) of the new regime when they are released.

The frogs will be released to the serving dish to await consumption by the pot stirring experts who have been protecting us, who know that this is best for everyone.  (well, not best for all of us frogs, but it must be best for someone, even if we don’t know any frogs personally that are better off for being relegated to the pot)

The pot is full to overflowing with non-essential frogs, (thirty plus million to be exact)  frogs led to believe the pot is the only way out, the only way to prevent mass death and destruction of their daily lives.  Ironically, the pot itself is a place of death and destruction of daily life, while outside the pot is fast becoming a place ruled by fear, regulation and restriction.

How I am missing my good friend, Jeremiah and his bullfrog band right about now.  Their message of joy to the world is one I long to hear again.  One we each need to hear right now.  Oh that they were free from the steaming pot, free to return to the pond to make their music once again.  I want to hear Jeremiah’s unmasked voice blended with the cricket chorus, blended with all the other unmasked music makers of the summer nights.

I want to hear them all freely lifting their voices in celebration of summer, in praise of their Creator, in harmony for all to hear and be made joyful in the hearing. Summer nights won’t be the same without the deep bass of Jeremiah and his bullfrog band of brothers bringing their special brand of song to lift our spirits and settle our souls as the sun goes down over each little corner of the world, one note at a time.

When I leave the pot and return to the world I left, will I find it has become a world of silence masked in fear, people alive but not living?  Will my good friend Jeremiah and his band be masked and muted forever now?

The memory of the music of Jeremiah and his bullfrog buddies plays in my mind even now, “joy to the world. all the boys and girls, joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea, joy to you and me!”

freedom – joyous freedom – may freedom triumph over fear – freedom ringing, singing, praising, proclaiming God’s good news all night long and every day –

“The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.”  (Psalm 97:1)

“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.  Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song.”   (Psalm 95:1-2)

“Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.  Sing to the Lord, praise His name; proclaim His salvation day after day.”  (Psalm 96:1-2)

“Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.  Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.”   (Ephesians 5:19)

Jeremiah, my friend, sing it!   Joy to the world!  the Lord reigns!

sincerely,      Grace Day