Beautiful Heartbreak

A friend posted a new Hilary Weeks song last week, and I just had to share it, and have a record of how much it's meant to me lately:

Beautiful Heartbreak

Tyler Castleton and Hilary Weeks

I had it all mapped out in front of me,

Knew just where I wanted to go.

But life decided to change my plans,

And I found a mountain in the middle of my road.

I knew there was no way to move it,

So I searched for a way around.

Broken-hearted, I started climbing,

And at the top I found

Every fear, every doubt, all  the pain I went through

Was the price that I paid to see this view.

And now that I’m here, I would never trade

The grace that I feel and the faith that I find

Through the bittersweet tears and the sleepless nights.  

I used to pray He’d take it all away,

But instead it became

A beautiful heartbreak.

I never dreamed that my heart would make it,

I thought about turning around.

But heaven has shown me miracles

I never would have seen from the ground.

Now, I take the rain with the sunshine,

Cause there’s one thing that I know.

He picks up the pieces along each broken road.

Every fear, every doubt, all  the pain I went through

Was the price that I paid to see this view.

And now that I’m here, I would never trade

The grace that I feel and the faith that I find

Through the bittersweet tears and the sleepless nights.  

I used to pray He’d take it all away,

But instead it became

A beautiful heartbreak.

I would never trade the grace that I feel and the faith that I find

Through the bittersweet tears and the sleepless nights.

I used to pray He’d take it all away,

But instead it became

A beautiful heartbreak.

I don't think I'm even close to the top of the mountain that's in my path, so I can't describe the view...yet.  I think that's why this song resonated so.  What a profound oxymoron, an inspired juxtaposition - "beautiful heartbreak."  In the worst of certain trials, the sanctifying fire that burns away the dross is so achingly beautiful because somehow, you feel yourself being made more fit to be in the presence of the Lord because of it.  A person who refines silver must watch the heat closely to perfectly refine the silver.  Not enough heat, and the impurities aren't burned away.  Too much heat, and the silver is destroyed along with the impurities.  It takes just the right amount of heat, and just the right duration of heat, and the refiner has to watch very carefully.  He only knows the silver is ready to come out of the heat when he can see his reflection in the surface of the silver.

Every single person has his own personal fiery furnace, and one of the most hopeful conditions of citizenship in the celestial kingdom is "seeing as we are seen, and knowing as we are known."  I believe that is why we pray for charity - the gift to see and know, without worrying so much about being seen or being known.  "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure..." (Moroni 7:48) 

"Be kinder than necessary; everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."