Greetings from the Holy Land my friends! We have some of the most beautiful but cryptic Dream Theater lyrics in this song. I absolutely love them and I think this is one of Dream Theater’s most emotional and airy songs. I will admit, I don’t know what this song is about. It is hard to interpret. It seems to be about some type of sweet enlightenment—about finding something that allows us to face life. It doesn’t fix all of our problems but it is beauty that gives us strength in our weakness. I of course think this song is talking about spiritual enlightenment (at least I want it to be). It works so let’s roll with it and if someone knows better please enlighten me. If you want to listen to an amazing version of this song, check out the version on the Chaos in Motion DVD (I believe it is called Surrounded ’07). It is 15 minutes long and has portions from “Mother” by Pink Floyd and “Sugar Mice” by Marillion in it. Pure magic. Your ears will be thankful you listened to it.
So my time in Israel is wrapping up. I only have three weeks to go. Time flies. It has been a blast and I am sure the last few weeks will be awesome also. It has also been a very challenging semester emotionally and spiritually (and I guess physically), but it has been awesome. All good things in life are challenging. It has been one big spiritual journey as I am continually learning what it means to follow Jesus and am being conformed to His image. It hurts at times and I feel like a spiritual failure at times but God doesn’t feel that way about me. He saved me and changed me and is saving me and changing me and He won’t give up on me. He is going to use me in mighty ways despite my failures and through my failures. He is working all things in my life for my good—Even my sin; even spiritual oppression and trials. He is teaching me that Christianity is about love! It is not all about doctrine but about living what you believe. This is a big thing I have learned from Jewish people. They emphasize live out your faith more than actually believing. Don’t get me wrong, correct belief is essential. Unless one believes they are sinners who need saving and turn to Jesus the Messiah for forgiveness of sins, they will not be saved. But I so often get caught up in the details and forget what matters most. Jesus says that His disciples will be known by their love for one another. That is a revolutionary message that is rocking my world. People should know I follow Jesus not by what I believe but by the outworking of what I believe—love.
Everyone needs to love and be loved. Everyone needs to know someone cares for them and is there for them. Everyone needs to know that there is hope in hopelessness—that there is a God who loves them. I will show the world God’s love through my actions and words. We can turn the world upside down if we, followers of Christ, put our differences aside, and love. Oh, we could.
Life is hard, at times unbearable. Yes, sin is overwhelming and oh so discouraging, but God is good. He is better. Look at Him. Let His light surround you. Then His light will surround the world.