Brave Saint Saturn

Ever heard of them?

The first time i did i was packed into a crowded van, bumping along some mountain road in southern India. The cd was Chuck's, and he was very patient with me over the next month as i listened to this song over and over and over again:

Yesterday while walking
Beneath an overpass
I saw the figure of Jesus
Standing barefoot on broken glass

His beard was graying
Smell of urine filled the air
Asking if I had some change
Anything that I could spare

Emaciated
His shaking fist balled up
Influenza and pneumonia
Begging God to take his cup

So different from his pictures
Breathing air through yellowed tubes
Jesus Christ, dying of AIDS
Can look right through you

And all have hated
Crucified and walked away
Savior of the prostitutes
Drunkards, rapists, and the gays

Under Bridges,
With hands raised
From the ghettos
They praise His name

Broken, crippled
In the dark of night
Raise your voices
To Jesus Christ

Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

i listened to it several times a day. i couldn't get enough of it. Reese Roper's poignant lyrics and striking voice spoke directly to my situation. i saw these men and women and broken and crippled lining the streets of India. i felt them grab my clothes as i walked by. i smelled their urine and their alcohol.

Then, several years later, on the beach for a college graduation day camp-out i listened to Reese again:

did you hear the news today
i'm not coming home,
no
and i wished it all away
i felt so alone
and the darkness crept it's way
like stars we know will die too soon
there is never any sunrise here in the shadows of eclipsing moons
crawling on a tightrope
the bravest thing i have is hope

daylight, save me
daylight, save me
tonight, tonight

halogen, the lights will flicker
incadescent burning lies
and the silence stands for nothing
desperate i search the skies aching for a spark
trembling in pitchest dark

Mission Control: U.S.S. Gloria, this is mission control, do you copy?
we have lost contact with the U.S.S. Gloria

U.S.S. Gloria: Mission Control, this is the U.S.S. Gloria, do you read me?
Mayday, we have lost primary guidance functions

News Reporter: The crew is now out of radio contact.
presently there is no way for us to know whether they
are alive or dead.
our hopes and prayers go out with you all.

Mission Control: U.S.S. Gloria, this is mission control, do you copy?

U.S.S. Gloria: Houston this is the U.S.S. Gloria.
good to hear your voice
we are coming out of the eclipse now.
i see the sunlight. it's beautiful
the sunlight is beautiful.

Jesus Christ, Light of the World
You never did forget me
and when i bled in darkness, You held
me
still held me
when desparate nights i cursed You
You loved me, still loved me
Jesus Christ, You dry the tears
You break my heart of stone
Your words are life
cut marrow through
the darkness, to the bone
a heart of flesh You gave me
only You can save me

Savior
Daylight
I am coming home

i can't really reproduce the full effect of the song, and it's not available free anywhere to post here. All i can say is that i remember being in tears at my sin and at Jesus' mercy in saving me as the raw honesty of this song showed me who i was.

Most of the other songs are equally intense; the imagery is consistent, appropriate, and subtle enough to be appealing. Roper has this dangerous compassion that is really intriguing and powerful and convicting. One of the songs on the newest album, "Heart Still Beats" talks directly and honestly about compassion for prostitutes and the homeless and and how nobody seems to have it.

The main theme, however, is hope. "The bravest thing of all is always hope." i like how subtlely and yet directly Roper points to Christ as our hope in the midst of our realization that we lack compassion and true devotion to Him.

All that to say that they are a band worth listening to every once and again.