City on the Hill

I was touched by this song from Casting Crowns, called “City on a Hill.” It talks about how the people in the city thought their way was the right and only way to accomplish something. It also speaks to people running away when things are tough and not going their way. The bottom line of it though is that fact that every person in the city has a job that compliments the others. The pieces put together make a brighter light than those alone. I think that society can be described as this city on the hill with the light fading. I wonder, if we were to really view each individual and value the gifts that they have what our “city” would look like. I think the lyrics say it all.

Did you hear of the city on the hill?
Said one old man to the other
It once shined bright and it would be shining still
But they all started turning on each other

You see, the poets thought the dancers were shallow
And the soldiers thought the poets were weak
And the elders saw the young ones as foolish
And the rich man never heard the poor man speak

And one by one, they ran away
With their made up minds, to leave it all behind
And the light began to fade, in the city on the hill
The city on the hill

Each one thought that they knew better
That they were different by design
Instead of standing strong together
They let their differences divide

And one by one, they ran away
With their made up minds, to leave it all behind
And the light began to fade, in the city on the hill
The city on the hill

And the world is searching still

But it was the rhythm of the dancers
That gave the poets life
It was the spirit of the poets
That gave the soldiers strength to fight
It was the fire of the young ones
It was the wisdom of the old
It was the story of the poor man
That needed to be told

One by one, we'll be running away
With our made up minds to leave it all behind
As the light begins to fade, in the city on the hill
The city on the hill

Come home
And the Father's calling still
Come home
To the city on the hill
Come home