Peace, love, and sadness are more closely related than we think

It has frequently perplexed me how peaceful, or romantic music, often also sounds very sad. The slowness of it all, coupled with a soothing melody, strangely can evoke a melancholic tone. Recall too, of looking out to sea from a beach, of hearing the soothing waves breaking on the shore, but also feeling the desolate vastness of the ocean. So perhaps peace, love and sadness are more closely related than we think. Why might this be? I can think of two reasons which are, no doubt, just scratching the surface. First, the love we experience, in this world at least, is only ever temporary; it will always lead to separation, whether through break-up or death. So to love well means we must also experience loss; a good love song will reflect this double edginess of love. Second, the peace which only God can give us necessitates us slowing down and being still (Psalm 46:10); so we are invited to let go of the world – of all our busy-ness, hurriedness, personal clutter and concerns, and so on – and rest in his shade (also see Psalm 91:1). However, although we are relieved when we give these burdens to God and to Christ, in the process we can also feel desolate, because we also have to give-up what we are attached to and vainly pursue. Realising the latter deep-down I believe makes us sad, but it is a sadness we must first admit and experience, in order to then experience the trust and security of being blessed with God’s peace. As Christ said in his Sermon on the mount: ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.’ (Mathew 5:4). 

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