Hope Is Rising

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it—in the hope ²¹ that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God’s children. ²² For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. ²³ And not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ Now in this hope we were saved, yet hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.

Romans 8:18-25 (HCSV)

Hope Is Rising

I’ve lost all my earthly optimism,
That its all going to be alright,
That the good will win this fight.
Somewhere between youth and disappointments,
The dream became despair, the love became a lie,
Just now, I’ve reached the end of my line,
Just now, I’m too tired to keep on trying,
Hope is rising, it’s a sunrise, for the end
Hope is rising, and it’s breathing for me again,
Hope is rising again.
Soon beneath the roses I will lie,
All the memories of my days, gathered to the sky,
Soon all my work will find its worth,
And all my strength returned, to the water and the earth,
Just when I reach the end of my life,
Just when my eyes dim out the last light

The greatest draw of my simple heart is toward beauty, in all its manifestations. Somehow it seems as soon as I capture a glimpse beauty like a moment of truth between friends, or enjoying a mountain panorama as I find myself writing now, there is an accompanying sadness. I mourn because I know that I can’t take it with me. It is a longing in my soul that drives me into history books, into songs, into the arts. I’ve been looking for an answer to a question, “What lasts?” Do you remember the first time you encountered death? Shocking, ugly, unfair and random; all that beauty is not. When I first encountered this final separation as a child my heart began to develop hairline fractures. Fissures weathered and crawled with relational disillusion in my teens. They stretched into cracks sometime in my twenties when I realized that I was not only experiencing pain, but was a source of pain in others lives. And now in my thirties there are holes leaking all over, as I am witness to more decay and separation in my life and the lives of my peers. It is tempting to blindly cling to the religion of optimism as an attractive force in the universe. It’s a trendy religion that many seem to be buying. It’s “the little engine that could” repackaged for adults. Does the so-called ‘law of attraction’ account for that final and undisputed fact of death? For me it’s an exercise of disappointment brought to the enth degree. Because there will be a mountain too high, a tragedy so shattering, a wound so deep that no multiples of “I think I can” incantations will be enough to power through. The Gospel of Jesus is the work of art so full and perfect that defends every angle. He painted his love in shades of pain, shame and death so that we would know where to look for hope in a world filled with empty promises. He died that we might live! In this way He has become the attractor, we the attracted. Not only has He given me hope for a life beyond the grave. He has given me a way to live. Grace. The most beautiful piece of poetry as ever was inspired. Where violent escalation has no hold, where addiction has chains without locks, where evil and decay are slave to the purposes of beauty. God is true Beauty. And in our created nature our greatest fulfillment in life is to enjoy Him—a way to live, the religion of Hope. Hope is not a dream it’s a miracle, not a destination it’s a journey, not a birthday but a resurrection, not an end—it’s a beginning. Where is your hope? Does your hope give you the answers your soul demands in search for the truth? Does your hope stand up under all the decay you see around you? Look to the one who finitely returns all that has been stolen, all that has been destroyed, all random and chaotic catastrophes. Jesus. Come with your broken heart, and body. He’ll breath life into your soul. Come with your angst and failure, He’ll give you purpose and a song. Hope is Rising again.

To hear the song, “Hope Is Rising”, from Downhere visit this site.

This is part of a devotional series by the guys from Downhere. Each entry is based on one of the songs from their upcoming album, ending is beginning. The album is in stores September 23, 2008, but you can get a free download of the new song “My Last Amen” today.