A couple of posts ago (which, I realize, was also about 3 months ago), I mentioned a song by one of my favorite musicians, Ben Shive. The song is called "A Last Time for Everything" and it appears on Ben's newest album, The Cymbal Crashing Clouds. (I highly recommend Ben's album. I also highly recommend Ben's family if you are ever fortunate enough to meet them. They are the kind of people this world needs more of.) I mentioned in that post that I would hopefully post the lyrics to the song here, after I first made sure it was okay. (At the time of my original post, the album hadn't dropped yet. Is that the right word, "dropped?" I know almost nothing about the music industry.)
Anyway, I checked, and it is okay, so here, my friends, are the lyrics:
(But first! Go here so that you can listen to the song while you read the lyrics!)
A LAST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
We’re running out
of fear and doubt;
we’re low on loneliness.
And long goodbyes
are in short supply;
we’re coming to the bitter’s end.
Tired of the letdowns,
‘cause they never let up
when learning to do without
is all that you ever get enough of.
Well, there is a last time. There's a last time for everything.
Then what of this earthly life?
It’s a beating sustained
by a knot of nerves and veins:
a trembling choir.
We are born born to pass away
and nothing gold can stay;
I’m a dwindling fire.
The seasons spin around me
as I’m breathing in and out,
and ever my heart is pounding
a steady, unstoppable countdown
Counting down to the last time. There's a last time for everything.
You have to look death in the eye--
In the eye!
You need to see what’s hidden there
You have to look him in the eye
In the eye!
You need to see that he’s afraid to die.
He's afraid to die.
But you my love,
you’re gonna wake up soon
in your lonely room
to the sound of a singing bird
and throw the curtain back
to find your bag’s already packed
and the cab is at the curb.
And, like a bad dream--
unreal in the morning light--
so will the world seem
when you see it in the mirror for the last time.
‘Cause there is a last time for everything. There's a last time for everything.
(For some of the story behind this song, go here.)
In the past month, another good friend of mine had a miscarriage. When I heard the news, I felt my insides tighten up and my heart start to ache, because while all grief is personal and unique, I know my own version of that sorrow, and it is awful. And I hurt for her and her family. And I wished, for what felt like the thousandth time, that no one else would experience what she has experienced and that I could take every ounce of grief and pain away from her forever.
I can't. Not even close. But I know someone who can, and He has promised to do exactly that, and He who promised is faithful.
Until that day, dear friend, I will pray that you will be able to hold unswervingly to the hope on which your heart rests. And I pray that even in the midst of the grief and sorrow, you will be able to know - really know - that all of this is only temporary and will one day end. The pain and sorrow and separation of death is trickling out,
and one day,
in a blink,
it
will
all
be
gone.
1 comment:
You're back!!! Yeah!!!!
Praying for your friend.
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