Many churches with contemporary worship begin with a few (or more than a few) praise songs. These songs are upbeat, cheery, and start the worship with a little kick. I always wonder, though, about those folks who walk into church and really don't feel much like praising at that moment. Giving praise to God is something we should do, obviously, but, if we're honest with ourselves, we're not always in that frame of mind and guitars and drums and the group of Seven Smiling Singers might not change that.
I've heard of a few churches that are brave enough to start with a lament. Now, that brings its own problems. Someone walking in ready to be energetic and praise God probably won't be too thrilled with singing a dirge-like song. At least it's honest, though, because it recognizes our range of emotions.
There's nothing like a good lament, but we're usually a little too proper with our emotions to let our anguished feelings out. As much as it pains me to admit this, we could probably take a few lessons from my 4-year-old daughter. Lately she's been giving some top-notch 10-minute lamentations a couple times a day. She repeatedly expresses the reason for her grief, she has a strong desire to be held, and tears usually accompany this display. Granted, it gets tiring for my wife and I (especially my wife since my daughter usually wants to be with her), but Caroline is an excellent lamenter.
That may be the problem with us middle-class folks. We don't know how to lament when the mood strikes, when we're overwhelmed with what goes on in the world, when our loved one has cancer, when we have little reason to exude joy. It would do us some good, I think, to be able to express our grief, be held by a loved one, and shed a few tears. Maybe I'll make that a New Year's Resolution or save it for Lent next year. I've got to work on my laments.
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