DISQUS

Kel · 2 years ago

I once heard Mike Frost say that the "Jesus is my boyfried" P&W category of music was overcatered for and what we need is writers to pen hymns of lament and musicians to compose the music of lament

so you're in good company

Marcus Curnow of Urban Seed, (Melbourne, Aus) re-wrote a well-known song this way:

Shout to the Lord (Angry)
(Lyrics: Marcus Curnow 2005)

Why Jesus? Why favour
Those who do not like you?
All of my years I cry bitter tears
I wonder where’s your mighty love?

No comfort, No shelter
Where is the refuge and strength?
Let every breath, all that I am
Never cease to question You

Shout to/(at) the Lord
All the Earth, let us bring
Powerlessness, tragedy
Rail at the King
Mountains fall down
And the seas will roar
Hear the sound of the pain

I long to see the work
Of your hand
Forever I’ll seek you
Seek to understand
Nothing to hold
But the promise I have
In you

Trailady · 2 years ago

I totally agree. To allow our hearts to be broken by the suffering of others is to show the deepest of sympathies.

I am a tender-hearted person and have to go on 'news fasts' from time to time or I tend to get very low. Feel so helpless to do anything about the troubles I see. I believe every pain is felt by God. In the end of all things, He is the One who has suffered most and lost so much.

TrudyJ · 2 years ago

Brilliant, brilliant ... our culture is so geared towards avoiding sadness. This is something I have appreciated learning from Buddhist friends -- how valuable it can be to just BE with the emotion we are feeling at the moment rather than trying to FIX it -- but as you point out it is of course there in our own heritage as well, particularly in (to quote Monty Python) "Those miserable Psalms ... they're SO depressing!"