And Your Heart Shall Rejoice! - Songs of Lament and Hope

 

It is difficult to lament. We live in a society that has made happiness a high virtue, and turned it into a commodity to be bought and sold. The icons that depict our national dreams are beautiful and smiling, promising that if we will but brandish our credit cards, we too can be beautiful and smiling. With so many discounted ways to entertain and distract ourselves, it is no wonder that lament is difficult.

For those of us who are Christians, an additional impediment bars the way. We often feel an unspoken pressure to live the “victorious Christian life,” so that “How are you?” requires a “Fine, thanks.” Any less jaunty response borders on the discourteous.

But when we get all alone, away from mall and stadium and pew, we remember that not all is well with the world. All creation groans, and we groan with it. Sin and sadness abound within and without; the wounds seep and are stanched, and seep again. We must own this brokenness and lament it, for until we lament we will not seek hope.

And hope is there. The world is not all brokenness and groaning; it is beautiful even now. Moreover, we have the promise of a salvaging project to be made complete, when all things created will be reconciled to the one who made them. The broken will be made whole, He shall wipe away all tears from our eyes, and our hearts shall rejoice.

This album reminds us that there is much to sorrow over, and much comfort to be sought.

The Mp3 is available for download now on the Oasis Chorale website, and will soon be on iTunes and Amazon.  The physical disk will be available on 25-Sept, and is available for preorder here.

You may also be interested in the choir's YouTube channel, where you will find live recordings from the 2010 tour.