Writing songs when I would rather just cry…

May 15, 2012 Uncategorized
Posted by Dale

(For those of you who don’t know Dale’s son has been diagnosed with William’s syndrome which has presented several challenges for the family.  I shared earlier that I am not praying for healing for my son.  I actually meant healing from his syndrome not his pain or suffering.  Hope that clears it up. )

Less than two years ago my dad died.   It was a rough time for me.  Doug, our drummer, half jokingly once asked me if it helped me to write worship songs.  Sadly my answer was no.  I was at a spiritually dry place and our Church was going through major transition.  I wrote several songs during that time but I don’t think one of the saw the light of day.  They didn’t fit for corporate worship and many of them were just, well, bad.

When we joined several friends in planting City Life Church here in Wichita, there was a lot of risk but there was also support and growth.  I also become even closer to a few awesome worship leaders in town, Andy Williamson and Steve Brummer.  Awesome dudes to have as worship leaders!  Right around the time we launched I wrote a new song called “Prodigal.”  A few months later I wrote one of my favorite original songs, “Victory Anthem.”   This was my equivalent to a renaissance.

Last week I wrote a new song called “You Weep with Us.”   This song is very personal and hard to share with people.  I had become convinced it was a song for maybe me, my wife and God only.  It is a lament.  It is a song through the struggle.  It contains doubt.  Is doubt welcome in a worship gathering?  I think so but wasn’t sure I wanted to be the one who championed it.  Even though the Psalms are full of doubt and a bold David who questions his Lord.

I threw it in front of some people I trust and it was well received and I have decided to unveil it this Sunday.   Corinthians speaks to God only giving us what we can handle and while this verse is in relation to Sin, I do believe at times as a parent of a rough infant we are tempted to curse or just leave our kid to cry for extended periods of time.  (Sin!)

So this song is about doubting God when he trusts us with so much hurt, struggle and pain.  I ultimately turn the page within the song toward God’s empathetic heart.  The Holy God of the Universe has endured more suffering than we could ever know.  He also bears with us as we experience the casualties of a broken world.   I believe this song is a song of hope but is transparent through the tension.

I ultimately decided to share it with the Church.  Our Church is healthy but there is a reoccurring theme of suffering and loss within the confines of our people.  To keep this song as private feels selfish.  So here it is.  I reserve the right make some more changes before we hit the studio at the end of June but it has already gone through quite a transformation.

You Weep with us.

God, You give what we can take, At times it seems too much.
It feels as though You’ve made an error, trusting souls with so much pain

We don’t doubt you love Your kids but how Your soul can bear,
our suffering, exquisite pain and feelings of despair.

*I love our Savior, Who died upon the hill.
Oh empathetic God you bear and feel the pain we feel.

Jesus Christ, dear Son of God, We thank You for Your tears.
Infection, death and grieving kin, You hold us in our fears.

Your Pain, Your pain is ours.
Our Pain, Our Pain is Yours. (2x)

 

I hope our new song is an encouragement to you and not just a downer! 

-Dale