Theres Still Strength Left In Us Yet

Eleven months ago, my favorite band released a new album called Memento Mori. The album as a whole is my favorite set of songs released by any band, inspiring me and challenging me in so many ways. One song in particular really just hit home for me, though. The song is called Arise. It begins as a seemingly dark song, with lyrics like "there's snow on your face and your razor blade;" however, the song as a whole is a hopeful and inspiring one.

We live in a world full of sad stories and pain. There are people dying because they don't have access to clean water or food. There are young girls being sold into sex slavery. There are tsunamis and earthquakes destroying already depraved parts of the world. There are people committing suicide rather than realizing that they are important and loved. All of these problems are solvable. Sure, we can't prevent earthquakes or tsunamis, but we can provide relief to those suffering as a result. We can help provide food and water to those who need it. We can end sex slavery. We can love those who need it.

"We'll cry tonight and in the morning we are new. Stand in the sun. We'll dry your eyes."
All too often, we are hardened to the sufferings in this world because we see it too often. We see so many homeless people that we are numbed to their plight. We hear so many statistics about worldwide poverty that we forget the people. We hear so many jokes about 'emo' people that we forget there are people actually suffering from depression. We need to stop and realize that there are injustices in the world. We need to feel pain for these people. We need to cry. We need to be angry. But we can't stop there. We can't just cry. We need to dry those tears, move past our anger and act.

"Hold on to the world we all remember fighting for. There's still strength left in us yet. Hold on to the world we all remember dying for. There's still hope left in it yet."
Most of us have, at some point, fought for this world. Whether it was something small like talking to somebody who was lonely or something huge like going on a missions trip, we all have invested ourselves into this world. We all have fought for it in some way. Sometimes that fight seems like to much, like we'll never make a difference. Sometimes it seems like we don't have any strength left to give and like what we're doing isn't making a difference because the world is so broken. But there is hope.

"So sleep tonight, we'll sleep dreamlessly this time. When we awake, we'll know that everythings alright."
We all need rest. We all need rejuvenation. The world wears on us just as it wears on those we are trying to help. We need Jesus. We need love ourselves. We need to reflect on the progress we've made so that we aren't bogged down by the trials we face. We need community to encourage us, to remind us we're not alone. Sometimes, we just need a break. We need to step away from life for a day and just enjoy quiet. When we get these things, we are reminded that everythings okay. We are reminded that what we are doing is worth it.

"Arise and be all that you dreamed."
This song lyric was the most personal to me. This was the most general and the most specific. It was the most convicting and inspiring. It was the one that moved me the most. It caused me to really look at myself. What do I want for my life? What moves me? What do I want to accomplish? What are the things I hope of doing? What are the things I only dream of doing? What are the things God has for me? How can I do those things?

I ended up adopting this phrase for myself as a sort of personal mantra. I have begun to plan things, things that other people probably think are crazy. But I am beginning not to care. God has planted these dreams into me for a reason. He has plans for me--and plans for you--that are greater than we could possibly imagine. He may only give us a small picture of His plan, but we must rise up and embrace it wholeheartedly. We will never know what things He plans to accomplish through us.

Arise and be all that you dreamed. Fight for love. Live to die. Come alive.