Dancing in Ashes

Part of the Song “Beauty Will Rise” by Steven Curtis Chapman

Out of these ashes... beauty will rise

and we will dance among the ruins

We will see Him with our own eyes

Out of these ashes... beauty will rise

For we know, joy is coming in the morning...

in the morning, beauty will rise

I can hear it in the distance

and it's not too far away.

It's the music and the laughter

of a wedding and a feast.

I can almost feel the hand of God

reaching for my face

to wipe the tears away, and say,

"It's time to make everything new.”

I keep singing these words and I feel so free!! I envision dust and ashes, desolate destruction all around. Yet, there are little boys dressed in all white, as bright as the whites in Clorox commercials, and girls with white dresses that flow freely enough to twirl around in. They are full of laughter and smiles, giggles that are contagious. The sun is setting as hands are raised, and surrounding the ashes are small, blooming flowers. Dancing in the ashes is so freeing and where there once was pain, there is now hope.

 “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"  – Revelation 21:4-5

Heaven is the Face

In the 1990s when I was introduced to Christian Music, I really enjoyed listening to Steven Curtis Chapman. I have not listened to a lot of main stream Christian music in the last several years, but I have been intrigued by SCC as he has dealt with the loss of a child and the pain of a son involved in a horrific accident. This week I was re-introduced to his music by a sweet friend and we drove around listening to his CD entitled Beauty from Ashes. If the title isn't striking enough, the songs drove deep into the marrow of my soul. This is my first reflection on this album. There are more to come. 

Heaven is the Face

By Steven Curtis Chapman

Heaven is the face of a little girl

With dark brown eyes

That disappear when she smiles

Heaven is the place

Where she calls my name

Says, "Daddy please come play with me for awhile"

God, I know, it's all of this and so much more

But God, You know, that this is what I'm aching for

God, you know, I just can't see beyond the door

So right now

Heaven is the sound of her breathing deep

Lying on my chest, falling fast asleep while I sing

And Heaven is the weight of her in my arms

Being there to keep her safe from harm while she dreams

And God, I know, it's all of this and so much more

But God, You know, that this is what I'm longing for

God, you know, I just can't see beyond the door

But in my mind's eye I can see a place

Where Your glory fills every empty space

All the cancer is gone

Every mouth is fed

And there's no one left in the orphans' bed

Every lonely heart finds their one true love

And there's no more goodbye

And no more not enough

And there's no more enemy

No more

Heaven is a sweet, maple syrup kiss

And a thousand other little things I miss with her gone

Heaven is the place where she takes my hand

And leads me to You

And we both run into Your arms

Oh God, I know, it's so much more than I can dream

It's far beyond anything I can conceive

So God, You know, I'm trusting You until I see

Heaven in the face of my little girl

Heaven in the face of my little girl

Living a deep, authentic life means dealing with pain in the everyday. As Steven Curtis Chapman wrote this some about his daughter who died tragically, he struggled with what heaven would be like. He wanted to know. He read books about heaven, searched the bible for every detail, and what he came up with was something that he could put words to. I can’t always look at the bible and see the depth and the hope of the words of God, but I can feel the Spirit in my soul, in my heart. My words can be an expression of that pain.

In all that I have been through, I have longed for heaven, that place where there will be no more pain and suffering. Everything will be in its perfect place as God intended it in the Garden. We will run naked and free, living passionate and alive. Affairs, empty marriages, and divorces will not exist. Those who suffered all their lives, will feel relief as the weight of all burdens will be replaced by the joy and freedom of Christ. The abused will be cuddled in the arms of the One who created love. They will know that the pain wasn’t supposed to be; it was never part of God’s plan.

I will not feel like an orphan unloved; I will not feel abandoned or alone. I will not feel like I am not enough; I will not feel that I am too much. All the pain that I have known will make me just as lovable as others. I will not live in shame or fear. There will be no more enemy, no more reason to protect or to armor myself.

I can’t put too many words to heaven, but I know that I will not live entangled in sin, nor will I wake up each day in the midst of a battle. I long for that place of true freedom, love, and passion and I will wait with hope expectant of the greatest beginning of my life.