Metaphors

Metaphors

Metaphors I like. A metaphor is a figure of speech where a word or a phrase is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or an analogy between them. The Bible uses lots of metaphors and Jesus was an expert in using common things like a seed, wind, leaven, a tree or wheat to describe what the Kingdom of God is like.

Here are a few other metaphors about life. It was Forrest Gump who said: “my mom always said life was like a box of chocolates, you never knew what you were going to get.” Albert Einstein said: “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” And Allen Saunders, author and poet, said: “Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans.” We hear and use metaphors every day.

You can find metaphors in gospel music as well. You may remember reading a blog I wrote some time ago about an old hymn “Drop Kick Me Jesus Through the Goal Posts of Life.” Sounds a little strange for a church hymn. Well, it is a metaphor put to country western music and sung with a straight face.

While I am on the subject of metaphors, I ran across another hymn you might like. I found it on You Tube and sung by the likes of Patti Cline, Willie Nelson and my favorite, Johnny Cash. The title “Life Is Like A Mountain Railway” was written in the 1890’s by Eliza R. Snow and M.E. Abby. Here is a taste of it:

Life is like a mountain railway, with an engineer that’s brave. We must make this run successful from the cradle to the grave.

Heed the curves and watch the tunnels. Never falter, never fail. Keep your hands upon the throttle and you eye upon the rail.

As you roll across the trestle spanning Jordan’s swelling tide, you will reach the Union Depot into which your train will ride.

There you’ll meet the superintendent: God the father, God the son with a happy joyous greeting, weary pilgrim, welcome home.

Blessed Saviour there to guide us till we reach that blissful shore and the angels there to join us in God’s grace forevermore.

That will preach.