"I will end up dust, I'm in heaven"

I'm probably going to get a lot of flak for this, but one of my enduring 90's guilty pleasures is being a fan of Depeche Mode. Go ahead, have your laugh. For those of who don't know them, they've been around since the early 80's and are known for their electronic-alternative-new wave-synthpop sound. I've been a fan since their 1993 release Songs of Faith and Devotion. They are not a Christian group, nor are any of their members religious, but their writing certainly has spiritual overtones and uses religious imagery.

They were recently on NPR talking about their new album and performed a small set in the NPR studio. Below is a video taken from that session, of their new single Heaven (man they're getting old!). During this season of Lent, this song is particularly poignant for me as I reach the end of my seminary studies and await assignment and hopefully a call to an ELCA congregation. For me, the song highlights the sacrifice of entering the ministry, especially for an introvert like myself, as well as the heavy responsibility associated with it.

Sometimes I slide away

Silently

I slowly lose myself

Over and over

Take comfort in my skin

Endlessly

Surrender to my will

Forever and ever

I dissolve in trust

I will sing with joy

I will end up dust

I'm in heaven

I stand in golden rays

Radiantly

I burn a fire of love

Over and over

Reflecting endless light

Relentlessly

I have embraced the flame

Forever and ever

I will scream the word

Jump into the void

I will guide the herd

Up to heaven

Heaven, written by Martin L. Gore