I heard this beautiful, aching song randomly on the radio the other day. It's called "Held" by Natalie Grant.
-------------------------------------------------
Two months is too little.
They let him go.
They had no sudden healing.
To think that providence would
Take a child from his mother while she prays
Is appalling.
Who told us we’d be rescued?
What has changed and why should we be saved from nightmares?
We’re asking why this happens
To us who have died to live?
It’s unfair.
Chorus:
This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we’d be held.
This hand is bitterness.
We want to taste it, let the hatred NUMB our sorrow.
The wise hands opens slowly to lilies of the valley and tomorrow.
(Chorus)
This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we’d be held.
Bridge:
If hope is born of suffering.
If this is only the beginning.
Can we not wait for one hour watching for our Savior?
(Chorus)
This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we’d be held.
-------------------------------------------------
Musically, it's fitting - light & airy with a twinge of pain, just like it's lyrics. It's an honest song, not pulling any punches about the anger, bitterness, and hurt of seemingly unjust, unfair, untimely death. But it also holds onto the promise.
Indeed, it seems life is contantly that - to see more fully just what that promise means and the character of the One making the promise.
So Julie's (the Wycliffe gal) friends started a website in her memory and as I read their memories and her old xanga entries, I see more of what an interesting person she was; a wonderfully, beautiful heart for God. I could see why He wanted her home so soon.
In the meanwhile, Harold's funeral also came and went. Rob & Christina were strong through it all and it was good to see a good number of old friends.
