Lament is an art form. It expresses what is deep inside the soul. There are certain times when we will face something of deep mystery and profound misery. Such was the experience of those who lived during the fall of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. In the book of Lamentations, we find a poet, a personified city and behind the scenes – God.
All three interact in a genre called Lament. In the book we find the author struggling out loud as he wrestles with the mystery and misery of his life. In Lamentations 2:13 the poet looks at the personified city of Jerusalem saying, “your wound is as deep as the sea”.
Look out on a summer evening at the sky. You can see the moon and perhaps some of the stars. You have not explored the deeper mystery of the universe without the help of a telescope. Looking through a different lens helps explore the mystery of deep space.
Listen to the waves of the ocean. The soothing rhythm of the water hitting the shore can be an existential experience. But the depths of the sea cannot be fathomed with out the aid of scuba gear and sonic assistance. Hidden below the surface are creatures, coral and colors that are unique only to the deep sea.
Learning is a part of life. There is never a time when we stop discovering new and profound truths about anthropology, biology, astronomy and theology. Each day presents new opportunities to embrace deeper knowledge.
Lament is an expression of the human soul that goes deeper than we can imagine. It is as mysterious as deep space and as vast as the deep sea. The sorrow inside the soul is as close as our next breath. What will we do with it? Sit dormant? Surrender to it? Sound it out? We must let it out through human creativity such as prose, poetry, art, music, photography and participation through rituals, religion and relationships. Lament is a deep seed inside our souls.
Looking, listening, learning and lamenting are all a part of the human experience. It makes us who we are and who we are becoming.
Larry A. Pozza