INTRODUCTION
This ancient story mirrors our fascination with the modern horror film genre, particularly, stories of the undead: ghosts, zombies and vampires. I think that part of the reason why many feel attracted to the archetype of the undead is because their eerie existence is a chilling reflection of our human experience, which sometimes feels empty, hopeless, and meaningless. In other words, dead.
But this story is a story of hope - the possibility of transformation, renewal and rebirth. This story came to the imagination of the prophet Ezekiel around 585 BC (about 2609 years ago) when he was in exile in Babylon. He was confronted with an existential question: Can the dead really live again? Not literally, of course, but it speaks to the possibility of renewal and rebirth in the face of despair - when we find ourselves in the valley of dry bones in our relationships, our careers, our mental health, our addictions, or in Ezekiel's case, oppressive political systems. These are moments when feelings of defeat, hopelessness, overwhelm, anger, despair, grief and sadness converge. Moments when we feel lifeless. Alive, yet devoid of life.
In The Fall, Albert Camus writes about the experience of life that haunts us: "The true horror of existence is not the fear of death, but the fear of life. It is the fear of waking up each day to face the same struggles, the same disappointments, the same pain. It is the fear that nothing will ever change, that you are trapped in a cycle of suffering that you cannot escape. And in that fear, there is a desperation, a longing for something, anything, to break the monotony, to bring meaning to the endless repetition of days."
(Recommended story to pair: Parable of the Prodigal Son)
This ancient story mirrors our fascination with the modern horror film genre, particularly, stories of the undead: ghosts, zombies and vampires. I think that part of the reason why many feel attracted to the archetype of the undead is because their eerie existence is a chilling reflection of our human experience, which sometimes feels empty, hopeless, and meaningless. In other words, dead.
But this story is a story of hope - the possibility of transformation, renewal and rebirth. This story came to the imagination of the prophet Ezekiel around 585 BC (about 2609 years ago) when he was in exile in Babylon. He was confronted with an existential question: Can the dead really live again? Not literally, of course, but it speaks to the possibility of renewal and rebirth in the face of despair - when we find ourselves in the valley of dry bones in our relationships, our careers, our mental health, our addictions, or in Ezekiel's case, oppressive political systems. These are moments when feelings of defeat, hopelessness, overwhelm, anger, despair, grief and sadness converge. Moments when we feel lifeless. Alive, yet devoid of life.
In The Fall, Albert Camus writes about the experience of life that haunts us: "The true horror of existence is not the fear of death, but the fear of life. It is the fear of waking up each day to face the same struggles, the same disappointments, the same pain. It is the fear that nothing will ever change, that you are trapped in a cycle of suffering that you cannot escape. And in that fear, there is a desperation, a longing for something, anything, to break the monotony, to bring meaning to the endless repetition of days."
(Recommended story to pair: Parable of the Prodigal Son)
The Valley of Dry Bones
(A story adapted from the Book of Ezekiel)
Once a traveler found himself in the middle of a valley full of bones. Walking back and forth he saw many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. Then he heard a voice: "Tell me, can these bones live?”
The traveler said: "Can these bones live? I don’t know. You tell me.”
The voice replied: "Speak to these bones! Speak words of hope to these bones. Tell them: 'I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you and you will come to life.'"
(A story adapted from the Book of Ezekiel)
Once a traveler found himself in the middle of a valley full of bones. Walking back and forth he saw many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. Then he heard a voice: "Tell me, can these bones live?”
The traveler said: "Can these bones live? I don’t know. You tell me.”
The voice replied: "Speak to these bones! Speak words of hope to these bones. Tell them: 'I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you and you will come to life.'"
So the traveler said those very words to the bones, and then there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. Tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.
The voice continued: "Speak to the breath; Come, breath from the four winds and breathe into these bones, they who have died, that they may live."
Then breath entered the dry bones; they came to life and stood up on their feet.
The bones then said, “But we are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.”
The voice assured them saying: "I am going to open your graves, and bring you back to life. I will bring you back to life."
The voice continued: "Speak to the breath; Come, breath from the four winds and breathe into these bones, they who have died, that they may live."
Then breath entered the dry bones; they came to life and stood up on their feet.
The bones then said, “But we are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.”
The voice assured them saying: "I am going to open your graves, and bring you back to life. I will bring you back to life."
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- What did you find to be the most important part of the story? What resonated with you?
- What experiences have you had that is close to this story?
- Where do you find yourself in this story? Which part of the story is about you?
- Notice moments in your life that feel lifeless and hopeless.
- How might you let life and breath enter the dry bones, so you can rise back to life?
SCRIPT
REFLECTION SHEET
REFLECTION ROUNDS 1 (DRY BONES + PRODIGAL SON)
REFLECTION ROUNDS 2 (DRY BONES ONLY)
REFLECTION SHEET
REFLECTION ROUNDS 1 (DRY BONES + PRODIGAL SON)
REFLECTION ROUNDS 2 (DRY BONES ONLY)
SONGS
Breathe In Breathe Out Sarah Dan Jones (Lyrics/Chords)
Come Alive Lauren Daigle (Lyrics/Chords)
Coming Alive Again David Lamott (Lyrics/Chords)
Graveyard Halsey (Lyrics/Chords)
Why Have You Come to Earth (Lyrics/Chords)
Breathe In Breathe Out Sarah Dan Jones (Lyrics/Chords)
Come Alive Lauren Daigle (Lyrics/Chords)
Coming Alive Again David Lamott (Lyrics/Chords)
Graveyard Halsey (Lyrics/Chords)
Why Have You Come to Earth (Lyrics/Chords)
