The Cave
“It's empty in the valley of your heart
The sun, it rises slowly as you walk
Away from all the fears
And all the faults you've left behind
The harvest left no food for you to eat
You cannibal, you meat-eater, you see
But I have seen the same
I know the shame in your defeat
But I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck
And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again
‘Cause I have other things to fill my time
You take what is yours and I'll take mine
Now let me at the truth
Which will refresh my broken mind
So tie me to a post and block my ears
I can see widows and orphans through my tears
I know my call despite my faults
And despite my growing fears
But I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck
And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again
So come out of your cave walking on your hands
And see the world hanging upside down
You can understand dependence
When you know the maker's land
So make your siren's call
And sing all you want
I will not hear what you have to say
‘Cause I need freedom now
And I need to know how
To live my life as it's meant to be
And I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck
And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again”
“The Cave” — Sigh No More, Mumford & Sons {listen here}
But I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck
And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again. . . Now let me at the truth
Which will refresh my broken mind
These lyrics have been on repeat in my head and heart for the last month or so. I have found such hope, encouragement, and faith embedded in these lyrics. Even in songs that weren’t written to be rooted and grounded in faith in Jesus, God’s eternal truths often shine through! There is such redemption and community in these lines; such a commitment to seek out and to be refreshed by the truth.
The pursuit of hope and truth is vital in the best of times. But even more so in the midst of recent presidential abuses of and efforts to consolidate power. We need to hope for the best and prepare for the worst! We need strategic, moral resistance when we see the illegal dismantling of federal government agencies and freezing (of) vital funding. (These things) negatively impact people’s real lives and fundamental freedoms and it’s up to people of faith and conscience to protect those who have been made vulnerable (Taylor, “I Underestimated the Religious Right”).
People of faith are called to stand in the gap for the weak and the vulnerable. To tear back the roof and loosen—if not remove—the noose around the neck of anyone and everyone on the fringes or who can’t fight for themselves.
Not a day goes by that I’m not heartbroken over the state of our country (and the state of the world), over how deep our divides seem to grow, and over how fear and hate seem to monopolize the media.
In it all, I will continue to fix my eyes on Jesus and to trust that He is not blind to or unaffected by all of the cruel, racist, biased, and unjust policies and orders being wrought by the Trump administration. But I will also do everything I can to move forward in outrage and protest over it all. Because nothing here is right or good.
Ending here with the words below, because I’ve found in them a reminder that what currently is, is not what’s meant to be!
I also think we desperately need a more hopeful and unifying moral vision that taps into our deepest civic and religious values. I still believe that countervailing vision could be a reimagined version of the Beloved Community, which. . . is building communities and a nation in which neither punishment nor privilege is viciously tied to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or sexual orientation, where our nation’s growing diversity is embraced as a strength rather than a weakness, and where everyone is equally valued and is enabled to thrive. I see this vision as a north star that includes actionable principles and commitments. . . including imago dei equality, radical welcome, ubuntu interdependence, environmental stewardship, nonviolence, and dignity for all.
Why a moral vision? Because moral visions have the power to tell a deeper story and tap into something greater. Moral visions can awaken our sense of what ought to be, even in the face of the ugliness of what currently is. Moral visions have the power to foster solidarity, bridge divides, deepen empathy, and incite a sense of a shared and higher purpose. A deeper moral vision will be essential for building the big-tent inclusive and just democracy movement that is needed in this moment.
The project of pushing our nation up the mountain of becoming a just, inclusive, multiracial democracy is much steeper and longer than I had hoped. But I’m convinced that despite setbacks we must keep climbing, we must keep pushing, we must keep ascending, together. So let us not be weary in doing good, because in due season we will reap a good harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9).
Father God, I ask you to change us all from the inside out! That we may walk in Your commands to love You with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor (which is everyone) as ourselves!