Prelude for Beautiful Victims
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The two words in adjacent ink do not have harmonious rhythm – “Beautiful Victim.” But their sound, though chaotic, is hopeful and promising.
It is like the punishing tones of an aggressive concerto. The opening measures demand attention, awaken the audience, provoke curiosity. How could this possibly become beautiful? But it does. Movement by movement the pieces are pulled out, each tone given a forum to explain its theme, its purpose, its place in the score. And then another piece speaks, given its time, and placed perfectly back into arrangement. Each movement played by masters; each movement playing the emotions of those who listen.
Near the end, a crescendo, a progression of moments in which the aggressive tones return, but this time less punishing and more triumphant. The same rhythms, the same tones now better understood and welcomed.
But for now the words “Beautiful Victim” beg for explanation. How, why, for what purpose are they chosen? Will there be a triumphant crescendo in the end?
I love a good story. We all love happy endings.
The beautiful victims feel as if their chance for a happy ending has been taken from them. Victims are vulnerable people in an aggressive world who are punished for no good reason. The hands of the people they love have caused them the most pain. Tragedy, misery, innocence stolen, what good can possibly come from pain? How can pain possibly become beautiful?
And then there is God standing in the most unexpected position, Maestro. Not only is He an eminent composer, but the conductor of everything He has written. He is the uncaused cause of all things, right? God is keenly aware of the beautiful victim; after all, this is His song. How does a good God relate to vulnerable people who live in an evil world? If He is sovereign, how can the beautiful victims reconcile the fact that He orchestrated the most chaotic moments of their life?
Blame Him. Deny Him. Ignore Him. Every choice is an ironic acknowledgement that He is there. There is no need to deny, blame, or ignore something that does not exist.
God is.
You know.
“Beautiful Victim” – contrasting words that sound aggressive but at the same time strangely hopeful and promising.
This is the story of God orchestrating beauty in the life of one of the Bible’s most tragic victims, Genesis’ Joseph.
I love good stories. We all love happy endings. We all want one.
Read next post in this series
The two words in adjacent ink do not have harmonious rhythm – “Beautiful Victim.” But their sound, though chaotic, is hopeful and promising.
It is like the punishing tones of an aggressive concerto. The opening measures demand attention, awaken the audience, provoke curiosity. How could this possibly become beautiful? But it does. Movement by movement the pieces are pulled out, each tone given a forum to explain its theme, its purpose, its place in the score. And then another piece speaks, given its time, and placed perfectly back into arrangement. Each movement played by masters; each movement playing the emotions of those who listen.
Near the end, a crescendo, a progression of moments in which the aggressive tones return, but this time less punishing and more triumphant. The same rhythms, the same tones now better understood and welcomed.
But for now the words “Beautiful Victim” beg for explanation. How, why, for what purpose are they chosen? Will there be a triumphant crescendo in the end?
I love a good story. We all love happy endings.
The beautiful victims feel as if their chance for a happy ending has been taken from them. Victims are vulnerable people in an aggressive world who are punished for no good reason. The hands of the people they love have caused them the most pain. Tragedy, misery, innocence stolen, what good can possibly come from pain? How can pain possibly become beautiful?
And then there is God standing in the most unexpected position, Maestro. Not only is He an eminent composer, but the conductor of everything He has written. He is the uncaused cause of all things, right? God is keenly aware of the beautiful victim; after all, this is His song. How does a good God relate to vulnerable people who live in an evil world? If He is sovereign, how can the beautiful victims reconcile the fact that He orchestrated the most chaotic moments of their life?
Blame Him. Deny Him. Ignore Him. Every choice is an ironic acknowledgement that He is there. There is no need to deny, blame, or ignore something that does not exist.
God is.
You know.
“Beautiful Victim” – contrasting words that sound aggressive but at the same time strangely hopeful and promising.
This is the story of God orchestrating beauty in the life of one of the Bible’s most tragic victims, Genesis’ Joseph.
I love good stories. We all love happy endings. We all want one.
Read next post in this series
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