While the communion elements were being passed around in church last Sunday, the keyboardist played the song, “It is well with my soul.” Somehow that reminded me of another song, “Tears in Heaven” by Eric Clapton. Two songs, two tragedies. I could write something about this, I thought to myself. I should call it A Tale of Two Songs.
Eric Clapton wrote the first verse to this hit song after the tragic death of his son, Conor. The four year old boy fell 53 floors to his death. Clapton wrote the first verse of the song, and asked Will Jennings to fill in the rest of the song. The result is a highly emotional, tragic song. There is something to be said about creations that come right from the heart. It is no wonder that this is one of the biggest hits for Eric Clapton. Take a look at the lyrics of the first verse:
Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven
Will it be the same
If I saw you in heaven
I must be strong, and carry on
Cause I know I don’t belong
Here in heaven
Here is the cry of a man who believes that he will never see his son again – it is a tragedy without any glimmer of hope for the future. The weirdest part of it all is that he assumes that his son has gone to heaven – a place which would be out of bounds to him, a place he could never get to. The depth of despair is poignant. The tragedy is not so much in the untimely death, it’s in the total loss of hope.
Contrast this to the story ofChicagolawyer, Horatio G Spafford. In 1870 his only son, then four died of scarlet fever. A year later, Spafford who had invested heavily in real estate along the shores ofLake Michiganfound every one of these properties destroyed by fire. To take a break from these unhappy events, Spafford decided to take his family on a vacation. Just before they could set sail, a last minute business development rendered the trip impossible for Spafford. Unwilling to ruin the family holiday, Spafford put his wife and four daughters onboard, intending to join them later. Nine days later, Spafford received a telegram from his wife, Anna. The telegram read, “Saved alone” Their ship had collided with another and sank in just twelve minutes. Her last memory was that of her baby being torn out of her arms by the violent waters. Anna was saved because of a plank floated under her body as she fell unconscious into the water. Upon gaining consciousness, she was filled with utter despair. It was then she heard a voice – You were saved for a purpose.
Spafford set sail immediately at the news. Upon reaching the spot where the tragedy occurred, the captain called him to the bridge. Spafford then returned to his cabin and wrote the song, “It is well with my soul”
Look at the lyrics
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!
His reaction to multiple tragedies was so different from Eric Clapton’s. This is not a judgement of spirituality or religiosity. What strikes me is the importance of hope. As a person, what strengths we have in our inner man is very dependent on what we have been fed, what we have been told is important, what we believe in. For many Singaporeans for instance, we are told again and again the importance of academia and meritocracy. I’d like to see any man come out of a personal tragedy strong just based on academia alone.
As parents, we need to strengthen our children with hope and peace. For the Christian parents, we need to help our children understand the importance of the biblical concept of eternity, the existence of a God who may allow personal tragedies, but will never leave His child to struggle with life alone. As we dig deeper within, His Spirit enables us to walk on, to still find joy and peace from a well that can never dry. This is what distinguishes us from the rest of the world. While tragedies can strike anyone at anytime, hope ensures we have the wherewithal to withstand the storm, the peace to handle the devastation. For us, time does not dull the pain. Time brings us nearer to a time of liberation from all pain.
