If The World Had a Front Porch...

In keeping in mind the "Peace on Earth - Good will to Men" quote that the angel told the shepherds in the field in the second chapter of the Gospel of Luke, I was reminded (strangely) of a country song from 1994 by Tracy Lawrence called, "If the World Had a Front Porch."  The songwriter tells a nostalgic story of memories that he had sitting on the front porch of his home while growing up.  I think we can all identify with some of his experiences on his front porch.  The activities that he experienced on that front porch helped shaped his life and he submits that there is a simple solution to the chaos, hatred, disagreements, and strife in our world and that would be returning to simpler times and sitting on a front porch.  Here is the chorus to emphasize that theory:

If the world had a front porch, like we did back then

We'd still have our problems, but we'd all be friends

Treatin' your neighbor like he's your next of kin

Wouldn't be gone like the wind

If the world had a front porch, like we did back then

Here is the youtube video that you can hit the arrow and watch Tracy Lawrence sing it and below it, I've placed the lyrics to the song below the video:

It was where my mama sat on that

Old swing with her crochet

It was where Grand Daddy taught me

How to curse and how to pray

It was where we made our own ice cream

Those sultry summer nights

Where the bulldog had her puppies

And us brothers had our fights

There were many nights I'd sit right there

And look out at the stars

To the sound of a distant whippoorwill

Or the hum of a passin' car

It was where I first got up the nerve

To steal me my first kiss

And it was where I learned to play guitar

And pray I had the gift

If the world had a front porch, like we did back then

We'd still have our problems, but we'd all be friends

Treatin' your neighbor like he's your next of kin

Wouldn't be gone like the wind

If the world had a front porch, like we did back then

Purple hulls and pintos

I've shelled more than my share

As lightnin' bugs and crickets

Danced in the evenin' air

And like a beacon that old yellow bulb

It always led me home

Somehow Mama always knew

Just when to leave it on

If the world had a front porch, like we did back then

We'd still have our problems, but we'd all be friends

Treatin' your neighbor like he's your next of kin

Wouldn't be gone like the wind

If the world had a front porch, like we did back then

Treating your neighbor like he's your next of kin

Wouldn't be gone with the wind

If the world had a front porch, like we did back then

I really like Tracy Lawrence and his songs.  I like simple things and I like nostalgia and can relate to the things he's singing about, so this song is right down my alley.  All except for one part: my grandpaw didn't teach me to cuss on the front porch!

Switching gears back to the Christmas season we're in, and circling back to the "Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men" theme that we are talking about, I wanted to delve a little deeper in the song.  I certainly don't want to seem all "preachy" and I do have a sense of humor.  Although I enjoy the song and the memories it brings back, I don't get my theology from Country songs.  I get mine from the Bible.

The Peace on Earth and Good will toward Men will not be achieved by sitting on a front porch, I'm sad to say.  The Fall of Man, which occurred in the Book of Genesis caused a deep chasm in the relationship between God and Man.  But our benevolent God sent Good will, in the form of His Only Son, Jesus, the Messiah, to reconcile us and restore that lost relationship that sin tore away.  Praise God!

But we still should treat our neighbor like he's our next of kin!