Lyrics to “Sweeping Up My Own Side of the Street” by Sue Riley and Melinda Wood Allen
I’m sweeping up my own side of the street, clearing out the clutter, pulling up the weeds, finding out it’s quite enough just taking care of my own stuff, sweeping up my own side of the street tending my own garden every day.
Taking time to stop and smell the roses on the way, planting what I want to see, pruning what’s not serving me, tending my own garden every day.
I’m exactly where I’m meant to be. Every step I take just moves me closer to my dreams.
Your grass might be a brighter green, That’s for you, not for me, I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.
Not gonna be the one to cast a stone. Won’t point a finger at your faults, got plenty of my own, ‘Cause, when I toss that judgment thing it comes back like a boomerang.
I’m sweeping up my own side of the street, clearing out the clutter, pulling up the weeds, finding out it’s quite enough just taking care of my own stuff, sweeping up my own side of the street.”
Responsive Reading for Sunday, January 19
“Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you” (Mt. 7:1-2).
I’m sweeping up my own side of the street,
Clearing out the clutter,
pulling up the weeds, finding out
it’s quite enough just taking care of my own stuff,
sweeping up my own side of the street.
“Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye. . . . remove the wooden beam from your eye first, then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye” (Mt. 7:3-5).
When I criticize others, my judgments come back like a boomerang.
“Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone” (Jn. 8:7).
I am not the one to cast a stone at others. I won’t point a finger at your faults, for I have plenty of my own to work on.
“When [the disciple] Peter saw [the other disciple, John], he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, what about him?’ Jesus said to him, ‘…What concern is it of yours? You follow me'” (Jn. 21:21-2).
I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.
Every step I take just moves me closer to my dreams.
I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.
I’m sweeping up my own side of the street.