“Awakened from the chaotic, numbing despair of these dark days by The Edge’s soaring guitar and the timeless sound of Bono’s voice, U2 reminds me that protest takes the form of a song, sung in righteous defiance by the oppressed, raising their voices in unison, straining for a freedom that is just around the corner, even if it feels much further off. “Don’t sleep; Don’t even think about it. No need, maybe a little bit. Still dream, about wakin’ up free, as we can be.” Goosebumps raising on my arms as chills tingle down my spine, I dare to remember that God is at work in the world. If brokenness and systemic evil remains all around me – then the regenerative work of the Kingdom of Love must not be yet complete. God is not done. God has not yet declared that ‘You are finished,’ even though millenia ago, a Suffering Servant did gasp that ‘It is finished.’

And so I raise my voice, join the song, and dare to believe again: “If you have the chance to hope, it’s a duty…In the chaos of the earth, we’ll find beauty.”

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