Too often it was the tunes of my youth that drew me to listen, and yet I often didn’t take time to consider the poetry of the lyrics. And yet, the poetry is the power of songs. Today I was haunted by the lyrics of a Paul Simon song’s lyrics; “I am a rock I am an island, and a rock feels no pain, and an island never cries.” The poetry is as powerful as anything from the book of Psalms, but is so sad now that I really think about those words.
Hurting people will do anything to keep from being hurt again. They will build a thick skin, hide in busyness, or use anger and intimidation to keep anyone from exerting any power or control over them. Such hurt can come from loneliness, grief, insecurity, abuse, fear or any of a thousand others triggers that bring about fear. As I listened to an old tune, I considered our willingness to become a rock or island in the false assumption such attempts will shield us from pain and tears. It is always a futile effort.
The walls and defenses people build around themselves with the hope of insulation from pain or sadness only drive such emotions deeper and deeper into one’s subconscious. They are like a costume that seeks to hide who we really are and what we really feel from those around us, but don’t change what is really going on inside of us. Life is often painful, unfair, confusing, and beyond our ability to control or change. Our inbred instinctive nature tempts us to fight or flee, but either making oneself an island or a rock, is as futile a solution as throwing rocks or force others into some sort of isolation.
As people of faith, we have another option. It begins with God’s grace. His willingness in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus allowed him to experience every last pain of human living that is unavoidable and ends in death. He did that to give us an out from our attempt to be a rock or island or assume we can isolate ourselves from anyone and anything that will hurt us or cause us pain. In making our reality his, and carrying that on his back to the cross, Jesus was able to bury all of our garbage in a tomb. He did what we cannot and frees us to be embraced by his healing love so we never have to feel alone or isolated again. Instead of toughening ourselves against moments we fear or can’t control, he changes our frustration into grace, mercy, and peace.
Jesus’ sacrificial love reveals the extent of God’s love that he was willing to join us in those moments of loneliness, despair, and grief. Knowing now that in every difficult moment of life we are not alone, allows us to understand we have been set free only by God’s grace. In response we are now free to see the pain and loneliness of others through the lens of our own shared experience that has been changed by the love of Jesus. This is a head start on our call to embrace and love the rock and island people in our loves with the same love that freed us. I am always amazed by the many ways God’s love inspires our life journey. Today it was in the poetry of a song from long ago that made a connection for me with the song of God’s grace from the healing power of a cross and empty tomb.