we can’t hold the line

 

Twelve In 12

READING 

The Lance Thrower ~ Jack Whyte

The Pillars of the Earth ~ Ken Follett

FINISHED

A few weeks ago I went to one of our church’s youth group meetings.  The topic of discussion was silence, and how as a culture we rarely spend time in silence anymore.  There is always noise going on – audio and visual noise.  And how that invades and permeates our lives, shutting out other voices.  It was a good discussion and the kids actually opened up.

But I just kept thinking the opposite thoughts.  When I sit in silence, the doubts and fears and anxieties come rushing in.  I need to keep them all at bay.  So my TV is always on.  Or the radio.  Or a phone conversation.  Or a video game.  Something to constantly keep my inner thoughts from becoming louder.

How will you know I am hurting if you cannot see my pain?
To wear it on my body tells what words cannot explain.

It frightens me how much that makes sense to me.  Unhappy doesn’t even begin to describe what I’m feeling.  I used to think it did, but its not unhappiness.  Its pain.  Invisible to the naked eye or MRI or scans or blood tests.  There seems to be no reason for it, so it can’t possibly be real.  Right?

I can’t do this right now.  I have to go to church and be happy choir director.  Its so much easier to fake happiness when you’re not alone….

You’re in nine kinds of pain. You don’t know what’s going on inside of you, and you are so locked into damage control. ~ Stanley, from West Wing, Season 2

Radio man,
Get us a signal,
We need to establish,
Some communication.

You’re breaking up captain,
Repeat your position,
Receiving distortion,
Repeat your location.

Echo to base,
We’re taking on fire,
Send reinforcement,
We can’t hold the line.

We’re under attack
Requesting permission
To sound the retreat
And forfeit the mission.

Say it back, Say it loud,
Send us help, And send it now.
We’re not waiting any longer,
Now you’ve gotta get us out.

Say it back, Say it loud,
Send us help, And send it now.
Now you gotta get us out.

Radio man,
Try them again,
It’s now or it’s never,
If you want to live.

They’re moving in close,
We’re losing our light,
If we don’t reach them now,
Then we won’t last the night.

Echo to base,
The front line is down,
The company’s weak,
And too few to hold out,

Captain come back,
Please say again,
The signal is fading out
Someone come in.

Say it back, Say it loud,
Send us help, And send it now.
We’re not waiting any longer,
Now you’ve gotta get us out.

Say it back, Say it loud,
Send us help, And send it now.
We’re not waiting any longer,
Now you’ve gotta get us out.

Say it back, Say it loud,
Send us help, And send it now.

Say it back, Say it loud,
Send us help, And send it now.

Say it back, Say it loud,
Send us help, And send it now.
We’re not waiting,
We have to get out.

Say it back, Say it loud,
Send us help, And send it now.
We’re not waiting any longer,
Now you’ve gotta get us out.

Over and Out ~ Brandtson