A Poem/Song in Progress. . .

this idea of beautiful things coming from terrible times has been on my heart. unfortunately, I am not a trained poet and the idea is complicated and deep. so this is a first effort to express my thoughts on the matter. the goal is to understand that God's sovereign hand is in all things and working to the purpose of His glory and will. How terrible things fit into that we sometimes cannot reconcile, but I think we all know someone who has been through difficult situations and brought ou of them growth in character and purpose that is truly "beautiful". I think of our Lord on the cross, his three days dead to us in the tomb, and his incredible resurrection. This is obviously the most amazing picture to me of terrible beauty. now that I am reading this I am thinking that no one will get it. ah well. at least it is off my chest and on the paper. =)

Terrible Beauty

who can say why the unspeakable happens?
how the innocent are hurt.
the physical wounds that torture the soul;
how do you recover?

is there purpose in the pain?
how do You explain that the
terrible can be beautiful?

the buildings fall and people scream,
creation groans in agony
some are found but most are lost,
how do we believe?

that there is purpose in the pain?
can You really make
the terrible, beautiful. . .

medicine that cannot heal
accidents that make us reel with broken dreams and bodies
desperate hearts that make wrong choices
sicknesses that stop our voices
and rob us of our memories

and I just want You to take it all away
but without this terrible pain,
           we wouldn't have stood to gain

the way You take a heart that's torn
and in Your mercy You transform;
You take the terrible, and give them beauty

from loved ones lost, a testimony
for hurt ones healed, a hope of glory
to those who fall, a chance to rise again

there is purpose in the pain
I see it over and over again
and I know I wouldn't be who I am
if it weren't for such terrible beauty