Take Me There-Trip Lee

The Song:
    In the fourth album from Reach Records’ artist Trip Lee, we have a song that depicts and celebrates the soul’s inner desire to be with our Heavenly Father. A the first listen I really enjoyed this concept of the song, which tells two stories of two different individuals and their current living situation. In the midst of these situations, the two characters are filled with the faith of the LORD and they are eager for their union with Jesus.
    The first verse tells the story of a young man who is dealing with a variety of financial issues. The lyrics depict that the main character is struggling through his days as he pursues his dreams. While things are not perfect or ideal, the narrator reminds the listener that the young man’s true hope is not in his money or his career, but his true hope is I Jesus. Even though things are not easy for this character, he refuses to lose hope in the joy that is found in Jesus. Actually, he is looking forward to the day that he is in  Jesus’ presence I heaven, where his hope is fulfilled and his worries and eliminated.
    The Second verse tells the story of a mother that is suffering from a terminal sickness. The woman is laying in her bed, seeing death approach her as she suffers through the ailment. Even though she is suffering, the  woman is reassured that she has nothing to worry about. Throughout the terminal disease, her hope in Jesus remains intact. Her faith is the driving force that encourages her to remain story and hopeful in this difficult time. The mother remains joyful because she believes that at the end of her life she will be reunited with her Heavenly Father and her savior and in that she will be healed.
    From the first listen of this song, I knew that the song was important with an important message. Yet, I did not know how impactful this song would be on me.
  
The Story:
    It was a Sunday afternoon in 2013 when I had lunch with my friend and his family. I had known this friend for the last few years and I have had lunch with his family multiple times. We had all bonded.
    After the meal, my friend informs me that his mother wanted to visit with me. I was happy to do so. Over the last year or so his mother had become ill from cancer and she was bed-ridden. We journeyed to the bedroom where she rested and greeted her. She was so happy to see me. We shared stories back and forth, stories of joy and stories of God’s provision. Even though we all knew that she was suffering from the pain, she never lost her love and passion for Christ.
    Even though she was suffering, she rejoiced in the positive works in my life and she always offered prayer for our worries before we left her to rest for the day. That truly amazed me then, and continues to amaze me now: How could she focus so much of her attention and prayers on our needs when she was the one that needed healing? How could she remain so joyful when she is facing challenged that will cause many to become angry and bitter? She never allowed bitterness to overtake her. Instead, she focused her attention on our needs and she spent her time in Jesus’s presence. While we visited, she would request bible stories and the singing of her favorite worship songs. This lifted our spirits as well as hers.
    Cut to Reach Records’  Unashamed Tour for that year, where my friend and I were in the audience. When Trip Lee approached the stage, I was reminded of this song. I hoped he would perform it. He did. Before we knew it, my friend and I embraced and cried as  we remembered his mother who recently passed. The lyrics  to the second verse was a perfect depiction of the end of her life. She lived a life of love, passion and a joy for Jesus. I will never forget that night. I will never forget this woman of God.


The Meaning:
    Every time I play this song I think of my friend’s mother, who loved Jesus so much that she was elated to be in Jesus’ presence. I attended her funeral as well and I was not sad or mournful. I knew that she was with Jesus and she was worshipping Him with everything that she had.
    Now when I hear this song I am joyful for a whole new reason. I remember that our pain ands suffering is for a limited time only, but our joy  in Jesus will continue forever. Even when it seems that our suffering is eternal, I am reminded that Jesus remains on the throne for all time and one day I will reunite with Jesus and I will be filled with an unexplainable joy. I am eager for the day that I will finally be in the presence of the LORD to worship him.