“But I suppose [unpleasant sounds] are necessary, for you’d never really know how pleasant one was unless you knew how unpleasant it wasn't” (Phantom Toll Booth 164).
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| Comedy and Tragedy |
I had been pondering over this post since December? January? In any case, it has been brewing for 3 or 4 months.
While waiting in line at Walmart one afternoon, my brother and I had an interesting conversation. Is there an element of beauty in tragedy? We considered the common, familiar argument that without sadness, one couldn’t really appreciate the blessings of this life. Hmph. Yet, we both agreed, if Adam had never sinned, we wouldn’t miss the tragedy; we would be blissfully perfect. And when we live forever with our glorious, holy king, we won’t miss the sadness! We won’t need the tragedy to accent our bliss.
"And I heard, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God, and He will dwell, and God Himself; and there will no longer; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed.’ … In the daytime (for there will be no) its gates will never; and they will bring, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come book of life." (Revelation 21: 3-4, 25-27)
But isn’t there something beautiful about tragedy? I adore sad songs and stories. However, what I like only indicates my personal taste, and therefore doesn’t answer the question. Can tragedy show the good, the true, and the beautiful – in the objective sense?
Unrequited love. Words never spoken. Stories not shared. Tragedy - eloquently written, spoken, or sung - can move us and inspire us. Our hearts ache, yet the beauty of music, the words, or the painting grips us. It will not let us go.
Unrequited love. Words never spoken. Stories not shared. Tragedy - eloquently written, spoken, or sung - can move us and inspire us. Our hearts ache, yet the beauty of music, the words, or the painting grips us. It will not let us go.
Perhaps the answer is right before our faces.
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
Is the answer that God uses the tragedy to produce excellent cultural endeavors? God gave gifts of mastery of song and pen. Does God use tragedy for our benefit in this way?
“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow” (James 1:17).
Or perhaps the beauty of tragedy is in the learning from the lessons of others.
Or?
And?
Even though I have been pondering and considering this topic for several months, I still have no conclusion. I think there is beauty in tragedy, but am I confused? I want to conform my thoughts to God’s thoughts, and this path is a life long process. Perhaps, I'll never know the answer. And perhaps the answer is just around the corner.
Or?
And?
Even though I have been pondering and considering this topic for several months, I still have no conclusion. I think there is beauty in tragedy, but am I confused? I want to conform my thoughts to God’s thoughts, and this path is a life long process. Perhaps, I'll never know the answer. And perhaps the answer is just around the corner.
Picture Credit: Fan Pop
If the tragic act of the Crucifixion is not a testament to the goodness (mercy and innocence before God), the truth (the true testimony), and the beauty (the courage of facing one's own predestined death) of the Lord, then what else could it be?
ReplyDeleteYet, on the other hand, from personal experience I find truth in Johann von Goethe's words in the story "The Sorrows of Young Werther": "No doubt you are right, my best of friends, there would be far less suffering amongst mankind, if men -- and God knows why they are so fashioned -- did not employ their imaginations so assiduously in recalling the memory of past sorrow, instead of bearing their present lot with equanimity." Perhaps there was beauty in the tragedy of the Crucifixion; but man is better off meditating on the hope of the Resurrection.
Good thoughts here. :O) Some rhetorical questions.
ReplyDeletePerhaps man dwells on the past (or should) to recognize God's wonderful, merciful providence?
And without the crucifixion, there would be no resurrection, right?
Well, I'll answer those questions:
ReplyDelete(1) What Werther means is that we should not let our thoughts continuously rest upon the dark times. (Werther doesn't take his own advice, though; he reaches such depths of despair over his unrequited love that at the end of the book he commits suicide.) I don't think Werther would object to meditating on the roll of God's providence! ;-)
(2) Granted, there would not be a Resurrection without a Crucifixion. I suppose I'm just very jaded with Evangelical and Roman Catholic passion plays by now. All the drama goes into Christ's sacrifice to guilt Arminians into conversion or entire sanctification. As a Southern Baptist and then a Bible Methodist, that was how the crucifixion was treated for me. But the Crucifixion is not the core content of the gospel that Peter preaches in Acts 2. He preaches the good news that Christ is raised, that he is seated on the throne of David, and that these blessings are unto us and our children if we believe in the Christ and are baptized into his name.
The end of Valkyrie is beautiful because we see a man who has done the right thing no matter the consequences (John 15:13-like). The end of Victoria and Albert is a tear-jerker because we see the end of a beautiful marriage (the picture God has given us to help us understand Christ's relationship with the church). Perhaps it's beauty that makes tragedy tragic. If von Stauffenberg hadn't been doing the right thing, the end wouldn't have been tragic. If Victoria and Albert's marriage had been miserable, his death wouldn't have been sad. It's because we see beauty that we are able to appreciate the opposite, realizing that God has ordained both for His glory.
ReplyDeleteCertainly there is an element of beauty in tragedy. It's beautiful to see how God works even in situations that we mere mortals feel are impossible and hurtful. When everything goes well, we take His gracious mercy for granted. It's when we are at our weakest that we most see our need for a Savior.
P.S. I'm not sure that I should read and respond to these kinds of posts while watching WVU basketball... But LET'S GO MOUNTAINEERS!
I would like to rephrase this sentence: "Perhaps man dwells on the past (or should) to recognize God's wonderful, merciful providence?"
ReplyDeleteMan should not dwell - as in "live" - in the past. Man should remember the past (to think and see God's providence), live in the present, and look to the future for we have a confident hope. :) Yes?
Ooo! Well thought out, Kiri! Too bad we lost the basketball game, though.
Dictionary.com defines tragedy as "any literary composition, as a novel, dealing with a somber theme carried to a tragic conclusion." Certainly this type of tragic literature can be beautiful.
For this discussion, I guess the follow up question is "Are all tragedies beautiful?"
I think I would answer with a resounding no. However, God is pleased to use these events for His glory -- which is a glorious and beautiful thing! Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.