Wednesday, May 02, 2007

The Silence of God...


...can sometimes be deafening

'It's enough to drive a man crazy; it'll break a man's faith
It's enough to make him wonder if he's ever been sane
When he's bleating for comfort from Thy staff and Thy rod
And the heaven's only answer is the silence of God

It'll shake a man's timbers when he loses his heart
When he has to remember what broke him apart
This yoke may be easy, but this burden is not
When the crying fields are frozen by the silence of God

And if a man has got to listen to the voices of the mob
Who are reeling in the throes of all the happiness they've got
When they tell you all their troubles have been nailed up to that cross
Then what about the times when even followers get lost?
'Cause we all get lost sometimes...

There's a statue of Jesus on a monastery knoll
In the hills of Kentucky, all quiet and cold
And He's kneeling in the garden, as silent as a Stone
All His friends are sleeping and He's weeping all alone

And the man of all sorrows, he never forgot
What sorrow is carried by the hearts that he bought
So when the questions dissolve into the silence of God
The aching may remain, but the breaking does not
The aching may remain, but the breaking does not
In the holy, lonesome echo of the silence of God'

(Andrew Peterson from the album 'Love and Thunder')

14 comments:

awareness said...

beautiful....I don't know this person nor the song.

the visuals.....of happiness all around and you're standing in the middle of it feeling lost in the silence.....I picture a tiny person looking up surrounded by gleeful people who are oblivious to the little one in the middle.
Alone in the throes.

When I was writing my piece on silence yesterday, the image I kept thinking of was one of a cry out that echoed outward, but was never returned.

beautiful.......

The Harbour of Ourselves said...

lovely picture you describe - those are the people that Jesus noticed...just one of the qualities as to why the broken and marginalised loved him so much

the song is achingly beautiful - you might be able to download it somewhere but try and hear it - the album itself is worth seeking out aslo....

paris parfait said...

This is very powerful and it made me weep - already feeling quite morose today, with all the bad news all around.

The Harbour of Ourselves said...

yeah, not the best of days

every time i hear the song i weep, i weep for those without choices - for that is truly what poverty is

ps, love the pic of the letter box

Disillusioned said...

Thank you so much for posting this. It spoke to me; touched me; moved me; echoed for me; dispelled some of my sense of isolation.

The Harbour of Ourselves said...

caroline - i am more convinced that (as i said to dana) that this is why the carpenter is so attractive - he dispells our isolation....

shalom

Anna said...

Yes it can be....

I needed this so much Paul and I am going to give the link to a good friend of mine who is feeling all alone at the moment.

Thanks so much...

Suzanna said...

why do you think Jesus said that the poor in spirit are blessed? Are you speaking of monitary poverty? Is that what you weep over?
When does isolation turn into solitude?

The Harbour of Ourselves said...

hey anna
hope it helps your friend - it always brings tears when i listen to it, when i give the song time to work its magic - but good tears, tears that open up my soul

try and get a copy - looking at what you listen to i am sure it will be a hit

suzanna
bloody hell that's a big one - so big and such a good bunch of questions i am going to write a piece about it.
watch for it over the weekend....thanks for the inspiration

The Harbour of Ourselves said...

yep. i change the photograph - sometimes a few seconds make all the difference...

Suzanna said...

Nouwen: Reaching Out
I'm reading through it again because I'm asking myself too. Anything you think/feel/pray thru will be good to read...

The Harbour of Ourselves said...

suzanna
never read it - will get a copy and read it before rambling

Anna said...

Sent the link....ordered the CD and sent it to my friend...thanks for the inspiration.

:)

The Harbour of Ourselves said...

he is a great artist - the best since rich mullins i think

have been working on your questions tonight - surprised myself really - if not tomorrow answers will appear maybe saturday. loved the image of the girls!!!