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While listening to the radio this morning, Matthew West was promoting his latest album, 'What The World is For'. Inspired by a family close to his heart, he shared with listeners about the hard time they had been having letting go of their youngest son, who had passed away a couple of years ago. He surprised the family's mother by dedicating the song to her live, explaining bits and pieces of how he was inspired, and let the song play.
The tune was simple, but the words were astoundingly clear and made sense to me-
Of what I can remember, it was about questions: Why do we bear so much pain in life? What's the point of all this? Why does every joy eventually come back to burdens?
And in the chorus, he suggests, perhaps we go through the suffering for strength, the strength for hope, the hope to know, knowing what the world is for is to make us long for home.
This struck me as strange, but when I thought about it more deeply, it just made sense. Why else would we go through so much striving and so many tears other than to have them cease and be washed away- not here, but after this life.
It's just the beginning of my philosophy of religion class at community college, and the teacher is already asking rhetorical questions: Why is there hardship? Why are we here? What's the purpose of us striving for success, knowledge, 'making the world a better place'? It's really all the romance of God to bring us to Him. We endure these things out of obligation, and hopefully realize the purpose and make it out of love and hopeful longing.
God, we are passionate, impatient people, especially myself. Make me mindful of this plan you made with your son's coming to earth, my part in the romance, and the future of your bride.
And make me mindful and acting upon this TODAY. Amen.