Ellis Brazeal recently pointed out a clear-and-present fact about what we call "sanctification". Ellis observed that the moment we begin to think we have it, or have made it, it is completely nullified. In other words, the only actual sanctification at which one ever arrives is un-self-conscious.

Another way of putting this would be to say that no amount of or "espece de" virtue-signalling will ever cut it. The moment you draw attention to your "growth" or "discipleship", at that exact moment it gets disqualified as evidence of moral improvement. The only material sanctification is, to the evincer of it, unawares! Someone ELSE, maybe, sees you're a better man than you were before in some area. But the moment you see it, or glory in it even, it vanishes. It literally ceases to exist.

I would never in a million years have believed that the Top 40 song by the Canadian band Motherlode entitled "When I Die" would apply to me. At the time, which was the spring of 1970, I disregarded the song 100%, as I listened to it in the late-night fast food restaurant on the way home from the library. It could never ever be or become true of, well, me.

On the other hand, "When I Die" made an indelible impression. On the soul, that is. (See Podcast 248, "Dead Reckoning".) My soul knew, unconsciously, that the song was a point of inspiration. (Unlike 'Led Zeppelin II', which at the time, was the sole sustenance, in practice, of yours truly.)

Some day I hope "When I Die" will be played at my funeral -- or the wake, like they played Lloyd Fonvielle's signature songs at his wake not so long ago. But I'll be maybe shadowing the place, wondering whether it really came true. I hope so much that it will have. And hope that my sanctification will not be "making me late" (Carly Simon). LUV U.

THIS PODCAST IS DEDICATED TO ELLIS AND DEBBIE BRAZEAL.