Lent is a season of dying, of bereavement as we allow ourselves to diminish, and the attachments in our lives die to us one by one. It can be difficult and painful to lose things we had expected to keep. Like Jonah, we may find ourselves striving against God’s calling, refusing to let go of whatever is keeping us from the fullness of God’s mercy for all of God’s children.
This week’s comic was actually inspired by one of my favorite songs “Last Hope” by the band Paramore. The chorus rings: It’s just a spark, but it’s enough to keep me going. But the bridge especially speaks to my soul in dry periods:
And the salt in my wounds isn’t burning anymore than it used to /
It’s not that I don’t feel the pain, it’s just I’m not afraid of hurting anymore /
And the blood in these veins isn’t pumping any less than it ever has /
And that’s the hope I have, the only thing I know that’s keeping me alive.
It’s probably no surprise to my regular readers that I tend to feel more like Charles Wesley, than John. Charles often experienced periods of darkness in his faith journey, and yet continued to cling to even the tiniest glimmer of hope in the blood of Christ, which isn’t pumping any less than it ever has. The more we allow ourselves to decrease, the bigger the spark of hope becomes. May you experience the joy of resurrection as you cling to whatever spark of hope you have in this season of letting go.
Check out “Last Hope” by Paramore.