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John Hembree

An Everyday Expression of Hope and Its Potential

An Everyday Expression of Hope 

Sane, Insane and Abnormal

August 7, 2012 by John Hembree Leave a Comment

I enjoy reading about those who walk the fine line between sanity and insanity, the abnormal if you will.

My personal belief is that most great leaders, whether political, business, social and even spiritual or religious leaders walk this line.

That is not based on scientific data, but rather on a personal belief that those who are visionaries, see things that others do not see.

They hear things and yes, voices, that others do not hear.

They are abnormal. They are often misfits and…

…should I say, they are at times the “greatest” of sinners.

For example.

A flat out murderer who killed another man with his bare hands then buried him.

 An adulterer, who had the husband of his lover killed.

A man who loved pleasure and wayward women more than anything else.

And a man ostracized from society because of his odd ways.

Those people just mentioned?

That would be Moses, King David, the mighty Samson and John the Baptist.

Abnormal at best.

So I am considering those who are abnormal.

 But yet they somehow remained within the protective hand and will of God.

I am fascinated by abnormal people.

Recently someone said to me, “Why can’t you just be happy being like everyone else? Being normal.”

My answer, “I have tried that over and over and have failed miserably at it over and over.”

One of my favorites who walked the fine line between sanity and insanity for much of his life is the great hymn writer, William Cowper (pronounced Cooper).

Born in 1731 William Cowper, during his adult life was in and out of asylums treated for severe depression and mental illness.

In fact, Cowper came to Christ in 176.

 In an asylum while reading Romans 3:25.

A few years later wrote the lyrics of a song that if you have grown up in church, you have sung at some point.

I have this song playing in my car, a version by the group Selah.

And it has so brought me comfort in recent days.

It has reminded me that in spite of self reflected decisions on my part and just good old fashioned sin in my life, that I am a daily recipient of God’s forgiveness, grace and mercy.

And I am reminded constantly of my need for the same.

And that in spite of my failings God has a plan for my life.

As he does for yours.

And I am moved, spiritually, emotionally and physically by the words written by a man who came in and out of an insane asylum.

Especially the fourth verse of one of his more well known hymns.

“E’er since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be til I die.”

You may recognize the first verse.

“There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains.”

William Cowper heard a voice.

 That voice told him to write the words that through much personal pain and suffering would bring the salvation, comfort and hope of God to many.

Be who God intended you to be.

Abnormal or not.

JHH

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