‘Get It Right the Next Time’: Keep Trying Says the Lord

Out on the street, I was talking to a man
He said, there’s so much of this life of mine that I don’t understand
You shouldn’t worry, I said, that ain’t no crime
‘Cause if you get it wrong, you’ll get it right next time, next time..

“Get It Right Next Time” – Gerry Rafferty

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

The song “Get It Right Next Time” was the last major pop music hit for Scottish musician Gerry Rafferty. Rafferty died last year, and people went back to his biggest hits from the mid to late 1970s, “Baker Street” and “Right Down The Line”. The song I reflect on, as well as Rafferty’s earlier tunes, bring up the fear of failure, of not doing “the right thing”, of losing one’s way.

It would be the understatement of the century to say we all lose our way, we all get lost, we all have times when we fear what’s happening, when we believe we are losing control. There are shelves of self-help books on “keeping focus”, and “maintaining control”, but they seem to leave out the ultimate answer: trusting in The Lord to help us find the right path, or at least the path to clarity.

An overriding theme in the episodes of “The Chosen” is that the disciples knew in their hearts they were doing the right thing as they believed in Jesus’ mission, though they became distracted by “worldly” concerns, mostly the possibility the Romans (and the Jewish leaders) would act against them, and against the Jewish people. Jesus’ message continues to be, to them, and to us, you are on the right path believing in Me, in the work I am doing, and how your heavenly reward comes from being there for others in need, especially as they try to find their way. As you help them, you are helped.

Lent is a few weeks away. We will be called to repent, to reflect, to repose, to “get it right next time”. Consider your path ahead.

Image: Wiki-media, courtesy Chosen.