“When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise the lord, as prescribed by David king of Israel. With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: “He is good; His love toward Israel endures forever.” And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. No one could distinguish the sound of shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.” (Ezra 3:10-13 NIV)
The builders were laying the foundation of what historians would later call the Meager Temple. It was a far cry from the glory of the previous structure: Solomon’s Temple. The older generation could still recall it, and they lamented the loss as they welcomed the rebuilding. The younger generation knew nothing of the former temple, they simply gave thanks for what God was doing then and there. The weeping and rejoicing rose as an orchestra before God – highs and lows, resolution and dissonance – all bringing Him glory.
This feels like where we might be as a nation right now. Our faith has been stripped down to bare bones, but we are ready to build again. The older generation – the ones who recall the church of forty or fifty years ago – they are still mourning the loss of what was. The younger generation is geared up and ready to go with the new foundation being laid.
Often in life we weep and give thanks in the same breath. Being grateful for right now isn’t disloyal to what’s been lost. We can acknowledge the past and enter today at the same time: eyes wide with gratitude for fresh starts, do-overs and new beginnings. We can be sad and grateful in equal measure.
There’s a show our family enjoys; a surprisingly substantial sitcom about the hereafter called The Good Place. In one scene, a main character is trying to explain what it means to be human to a heavenly being when she says “So we’re all a little bit sad all the time… If you try to ignore your sadness it just ends up leaking out of you anyway.” She’s right. To be human is to be a little bit sad. It’s been this way since the Fall and it will stay this way until Heaven invades earth and humanity is finally fully restored to right relationship with Creator.
It’s ok to be a little sad, if we’re sad and thankful simultaneously. Aware of what’s been lost, aware of what’s not quite right, and totally grateful for second chances.
“In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV)
Lord, we acknowledge that this has been a hard season and we feel a little demolished by the weight of the last year. We also see that You are calling us to rebuild, to set our foundations down in You once more. Help us sing through our tears. Give us hope as we entrust our losses to You and look to the future with confidence in Your ability to redeem all things. Amen.