By Ainslee Zou, a senior molecular biology/biochemistry and music major from Bristol, Indiana
Scripture: Psalm 126 (NRSV)
During a year when it seems nothing but shock, disappointment, and uncertainty is promised, it sometimes feels hard to rejoice. The losses that have been experienced range from way of life to precious loved ones. In the midst of this, how can we rejoice? How could we expect life to be restored to the way it was when this impact has been felt so deeply?
In pondering these questions, I find myself reflecting upon restoration. I thought restoration was simple: an action that occurs to bring back or fix what was lost or broken. An undo or reset button, of sorts.
Since March, I’ve often yearned for the way life was. A life I took deeply for granted. Yet, I feel I’ve seen suffering of many sorts this year: viral outbreak; declining health; injustice to marginalized groups; physical, social, spiritual isolation. How could life simply go back to the way it was?
Although the year’s been laced with struggle, I’ve also experienced joy. I’ve lived laughter and felt the promise of restoration. This year has led me to be full of gratitude, humility, and grace for others as we embark on this journey of unknowns and uncertainties together. I yearn to be someone who is transformed by suffering. Someone who can still say, in the midst of struggle, “the Lord has done great things for us,” and holds onto the hope that God continues to do so.
To many difficult questions, I don’t have answers. However, I don’t think restoration is as simple as I previously thought. Perhaps, restoration looks more like transformation. I pray the Lord gives us strength to look upon this year and dream of restoration, of transformation. May we cling to the promise that what we sow in tears, we may also one day, perhaps this day, reap with joy.
Scripture: Psalm 126 (NRSV)
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
2Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”
3The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
4Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
5May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.
6Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.