This Is How the World Will End

We had a wonderful service this weekend at Grace and I’m so glad that I didn’t miss it (I had overslept, showed up late).

We talked a great deal about what’s going on in Haiti. My mind is still processing through everything that’s going on over there, while wondering how the church and the rest of the world will respond.

Anyway, at the end of the service, we showed a music video by the musical group, The Elms. The song is called "This Is How The World Will End" and I had originally heard it months ago when Starbucks was handing out cards with a free download of the song (to promote building water wells in Africa). It wasn’t until I saw the music video today with the lyrics on the screen, that I truly got the point of the song. I think you know what I mean, when you spent months upon months singing a song because it sounds good, yet you never take time to really listen to the lyrics.

The footage in the music video below was taken by Luke Renner, who is an Indiana-native and was in Haiti when the earthquake hit. Since then, he’s been taking footage almost non-stop and updating his Twitter account with updates (the footage in the video is before the earthquake hit). I’d challenge you to watch the video twice. First, just listen to the song and take in the pictures. The second time, read the lyrics. It’s amazing.

This Is How the World Will End
The Elms

When the dollar made with blood is spent,
When an enemy can’t become a friend.
When the better man won’t lend a hand,
Baby, this is how the world will end.

When a day of hope is a rarity,
Or a diplomat hasn’t time to see
That a child lost is a true offense,
Baby, this is how the world will end.

Bring a chair up to the table.
Bring a message to the crowd.
Where’s a common trust to deliver us from the wretched and the proud?
Sing a tune about the promise.
Speak on that which we depend.
And if a certain light don’t shine again,
Baby, this is how the world will end.

When the poorest kid is fending for himself,
Or the widow cries, but she gets no help.
When we know what’s true, but we still pretend,
Baby, this is how the world will end.

Bring a chair up to the table.
Bring a message to the crowd.
Where’s a common trust to deliver us from the wretched and the proud?
Sing a tune about the promise.
Speak on that which we depend.
Now let that certain light come shinin’ then,
Baby, we could change the world again.

But if that certain light don’t shine again,

Baby, this is how the world will end.