It's So Heavy
It’s So Heavy by the Tedeschi Trucks Band is a haunting commentary on the division and turmoil in the United States of America.
“What have we done to this kingdom we proclaim to be the chosen one?” sings Susan Tedeschi.
“Oh, it’s so heavy, it’s so heavy,” is the reply of the chorus.
As the verses continue, Susan sings about injustice and lies, darkened mirrors, and colored dyes. But the lyrics that really tear me up inside go like this -
“Oh, we are marching
We are fighters without a cause
Cause it’s easier to be in the crowd
Then cry alone, crying out loud
You gotta feel the pain, you gotta see the suffering
Gotta hear the cause”
Lane Staley of Alice in Chains was once asked what his lyrics meant. He answered, “What do they mean to you?”
Songwriters are modern-day poets. Like many of the things Jesus said, their words require thought and reflection. As I reflect on It’s So Heavy, I recall the words of a church member from New Zealand who once commented on the division in the USA, saying, “Your country is imploding, caving in on itself.”
“A kingdom divided cannot stand,” said Jesus. It’s very possible he was quoting from a popular saying of that day. Jerusalem fell in AD 70, but the seeds that led to its fall were sown much earlier through infighting and divisions among its leaders.
Just yesterday, I was in a meeting with several young pastors. As they described their greatest challenges and frustrations in the churches they served, every single of them commented on those members of their congregations whose Christianity is so wrapped up in their political views that they have become divisive and mean-spirited.
This great experiment called democracy can only succeed if we learn how to live together. We are different, often vastly so. But we must find a way to live together. As Christians, we are called to be peace-makers and mercy-givers. Romans 12:18 exhorts us, saying, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
It’s easier to join the crowd, picking fights. That’s the broad path that leads to destruction. But for those of us called to follow Jesus, the narrow path is the only way that leads to life. And make no mistake about it, that narrow path involves a cross and suffering, humility, and reconciliation.
In Christ,
Dan
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