Wednesday 23 October 2013

Lament: Travelling the Emotional Journey

We were dwelling on the subject of Old Testament lament in class yesterday, when our lecturer made a lovely statement on how a lament enables one to "travel the emotional journey" in dealing with a terribly difficult life situation, before arriving at hope and praise (and many times, forgiveness) again.

The fact that laments - from the simple to the shocking - are common in Scripture shows us that God is fine with emotional journeys of that sort, because it makes us who we really are - simply human. It is unrealistic to jump directly from disaster to sheer joy unless you happen to be a Pollyanna; not to mention harsh and backfire-inducing (speaking from experience). Even the great Apostle Paul had to learn to be content in his trials and tribulation (Phil 4:11-13); this suggests a formative process in time. I imagine that Paul had lamented at times, even though the NT doesn't record it.

Heroic positivity is admirable, but questionable as to how far it helps one to heal from a deep wound. Of course, I am not saying that we should dwell in square one forever. While there is no jumping from point A to point Z in an emotional journey, our walk must certainly anticipate point Z - a point of resolution, completed healing, acceptance and strategic adjustment in order to move on. Such purposeful journeys require faith. We lament because we have faith that God, in His great sovereignty and love, would not abandon us despite our screaming and kicking (and in David's case, cursing). We also lament because we have faith in the outcome of our laments; even when disorientated, angry and somewhat cynical, we desire to glimpse the hope which has been clouded by our momentary troubles. We desire to return to God's rest characterised by peace. We heal as we walk those emotional journeys with God. In time, we discover life.

And so, Kubler-Ross is not the first to advocate the need for emotional journeys. (I love her ideas, btw.) The Bible is.   

The position of laments in Scripture has implications for those of us who have committed ourselves to walk with a person or people through grief, loss, break-ups, terminal diseases, failure, crises and etc. What does it mean to minister to one in such sorrow and hurt? How do we encourage a person to move towards hope and healing, without being too pushy that we rush him/her through the necessary processes in the journey? How can we encourage a person to lament (if it is obviously needed) when he/she thinks that lamenting is just making a mountain out of a molehill? There are also implications for the structure of worship in our churches. Is there room and time for the people's laments? Are our churches tears-friendly, or do we scorn tears and merely sing the choruses of "Hallelujah"...."We rejoice"? Do we help those who can't "cry it all out" to cry?

What about Christian artists? In our efforts to make the broken world a better place, how can our work encourage healing and hope through facilitating laments... and thus, the emotional journeys that hearken ears to God's comfort and draw hearts to trust Him?

Food for thought.

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