It's hard to believe that I couldn't see it previously, but I totally encountered Jesus in the middle of Disney's "High School Musical."

 Now, I fully realize that this statement smacks strongly of that cheapest sort of evangelicalism -- with a demon behind every stubbed toe and an angel behind every discovered penny -- but you'll have to take my word for it that I'm not typically that sort of person.  I know that it's highly unlikely that the original song-writer(s) or lyricist(s) meant to create anything other than sappy, snappy, bubble-gum pop songs about high school romance.  And I am not at all in favor of re-writing the words to classic songs to somehow make them more "Christian," like that old song,  "Some Kind of Wonderful" by Grand Funk Railroad, that was re-written to be addressed to "my Jesus" instead of "my baby."

But even so, there's still something cool about how God can sometimestake a random set of circumstances and blend them into a truly meaningful spiritual experience.

All week, I've had this song in my head from Disney's "High School Musical." It's a song called "What I've Been Looking For" (which actually occurs twice within the movie, with two separate arrangements; for those of you who might be curious, it's the Ryan and Sharpay version that's been on the brain).  Likemany of the other songs from the film, it's a catchy tune.  Without even trying -- and actually with some deliberate effort to get it out of my head -- I just find myself humming the tune as I'm ridingmy bike, or cleaning up the kitchen, or whatever.  "Doo Doo DooDoo - Doo Doo DooDoo - Do Do.  Woa-ah-ah-oh."  If you've heard the song, you probably know what I mean...

Simultaneously, I've been spending a lot of the week feeling kind of awkward and lonely.  A combination of church leadership transitions, general season of ministry, and personal relationships have worked together to create this general sense of malaise in my life.  Nothing extraordinary.  Nothing alarming.  Just kind of tough, you know?  I've had these persistent questions bouncing around about ministry partnerships, healthy balances in my life, finding the right mix between personal responsibility and giving things to God -- that kind of stuff.  And while I've been seeking God on these questions -- through prayer, meditation, reading the Bible, and talking with others -- I hadn't found any soul-satisfying reassurances about the situations...

That is, until this morning.  I was riding my bicycle down the Rokin, right in the heart of Amsterdam, when I finally connected the words bouncing through my head (from "High School Musical") to my current life circumstances -- creating a kind of bizarre pop-worship song.  Again, I know it soundskind of cheesy.  But read the words for yourself (totally unedited!), and see if I'm not totally off-base:

It's hard to believe
That I couldn't see
You were always there beside me

Thought I was alone
With no one to hold
But you were always right beside me

This feeling's like no other
I want you to know
I've never had someone
That knows me like you do
The way you do
I've never had someone
As good for me as you
No one like you

So lonely before
I finally found
What I've been looking for

So good to be seen
So good to be heard
Don't have to say a word
For so long I was lost
So good to be found
I'm loving having you around

This feeling's like no other
I want you to know
I've never had someone
That knows me like you do
The way you do
I've never had someone
As good for me as you
No one like you

So lonely before,
I finally found
What I've been looking for

Cool, huh? Maybe you will just think I'm thanking my lucky angel (or moon-rock, if you're more inclined towards New Ageism) for such "wisdom from heaven."  And I'm certainly not offended if you write it off as such.  But it was a cool enough moment for me that I thought I'd share...