IV: Stigmata

"This feeling speaks
With the quiet flutes of fall
That disturb the sleep of sunken images
The memory of voices in abandoned rooms

Walk with me
Walk with me down to the river's edge
Walk with me
Where the secrets lie and wait

These wounds bleed
The solemn pride of mourning
An overwhelming pain nourishing the flame
The cold embrace of a breaking heart

Take this pain away
Don't take this pain away
Take this pain away
Don't take this pain away

Walk with me
Walk with me down to the water's edge
Walk with me
Where the mirrors lie and wait

This sadness speaks
Of golden plains and lakes of blue
Like the curse of wrathful God
Like dew dropping from a thorn
It speaks of things in secret toungues
And it is speaking out a name

Take this pain away
Don't take this pain away
Take this pain away
Don't take this pain away"

I like these lyrics so much because they remind me of myself. Sometimes as I think back on life, I want God to take away the pain, the heartache of some of the losses. I just want him to make it stop hurting. But I then I know that the pain is there for a reason. It's to make me change. And so usually I start out praying "take this pain away" but then later praying "don't take this pain away" just help me to learn from it. This also reminds me of something I read by C.S. Lewis. He said that pain is often (but not always) how God gets our attention. We can ignore pleasure and our own conscience and His small voice, but pain is His megaphone. When we hurt, we sit up and listen. So, no Lord, don't take this pain away. Show us what needs changing.