Monthly Archives: February 2015

Take Thou My Hand, O Father – So nimm denn meine Hände

28 Saturday Feb 2015

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Take Thou my hand, O Father, and lead Thou me,
Until my journey endeth eternally.
Alone I will not wander one single day.
Be Thou my true companion and with me stay.

As we continue in the season of Lent, I’m finding the hymns I’ve been given have a common link in that they all address the idea of being alone. Words that remind us that while we live in community, we face our spiritual challenges alone; we face ourselves and our God alone. But, we can find solace in the companionship to be found when we walk towards whatever is our foundation. When we trust the goodness that results in standing on solid ground despite the sense of shakiness that life sometimes provides.

Though naught of Thy great power may move my soul,
With Thee through night and darkness I reach the goal.
Take, then, my hands, O Father, and lead Thou me,
Until my journey endeth eternally.

This is an old German hymn that a few said brought tears whenever they heard it. It is a reminder of the examples of strength some saw in their parents’ and grandparents’ lives. It is a prayer for strength in our own lives. It is an acknowledgment that we cannot, and perhaps do not, walk alone – even if we feel we are, there is something beyond us that can hold our hands on the journey.

So nimm denn meine Hände und führe mich
Bis an mein selig Ende und ewiglich!
Ich kann allein nicht gehen, nicht einen Schritt;
Wo du wirst gehn und stehen, da nimm mich mit.

These words were written by the Baltic German poet Julie Katharina von Hausmann around 1864. Legend has it that she was engaged to a theology student on a mission whom she travelled to Africa to wed. Upon her arrival, she found he had died from a tropical fever. Hard to imagine this in our time of instant communication, but travel in 1864 with this news waiting must have been completely devastating and disorienting. She returned to Latvia after this tragedy and spent the remainder of her life working with the poor and writing poetry.   Her work was published in her lifetime under the condition that it be done anonymously and that all profits go to an orphanage in Hong Kong.

Again, here is an example of tremendous strength in the face of overwhelming tragedy. An example of what must have been an incredibly lonely journey resulting in such giving, such selflessness. An example of knowing to ask for a hand to help lead the way. We all face a variety of challenges; some shared, some private. Finding something, or someone, to hold a hand while we do so is a blessing. Being able to ask for that hand might just be a sign of deep understanding, humility and strength.  The hands we hold are a real treasure.  Our ability to see these hands, is a gift.

 

Go, My Children

21 Saturday Feb 2015

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This week we have entered into the season of Lent. For those within the Christian Church, this is a time of reflection and preparation. It is a time when we contemplate our spiritual state and consider how this is reflected by our actions. When I looked at the traditional meaning of Lent, I found that there is a three-pronged approach to the practices many undertake during this time. These are actually centred on the idea of justice. First, prayer represents justice towards God. Fasting (self-denial) represents justice towards the self. Finally, almsgiving represents the justice we show to our neighbours. To me, this does seem to be a more holistic approach than the gloomy, give things up idea I often associate with this time. It speaks to our spirit, body and community. It is interesting to note, that even in the secular world, people are starting to consider this time as well – a time to meditate, think about environmental stewardship and personal health. Designating a time to consciously reflect.

This is a time of personal reflection. The music is contemplative, some might say melancholy and sad. It is a quiet time. And as such, it can be lonely. So I picked this hymn as a reminder that while, in some ways, we must walk through this deeply personal time alone, we are not alone. There is something beyond us that carries, feeds and fills us. For some of us that is God. For some it is the love of our families and friends. For some it lies in the natural word. For some it is something we don’t really understand or know how to define. But for some it feels like there is no source of this deep strength, this river of love. So while this hymn reminds me of the care I receive, perhaps it can also give me guidance in providing this blessing to those who can’t find it. Maybe Lent isn’t so much about thinking of things to give up.  Maybe it’s about thinking of what we can give.

Go, my children, with my blessing, never alone.
Waking, sleeping, I am with you, you are my own.
In my love’s baptismal river, I have made you mine forever.
Go, my children, with my blessing; you are my own.

Go, my children, fed and nourished, closer to me.
Grow in love and love by serving, joyful and free.
Here my Spirit’s power filled you, here his tender comfort stilled you.
Go, my children, fed and nourished, joyful and free.

When Peace, Like A River

14 Saturday Feb 2015

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We have arrived at one of our most treasured hymns. I think it may be the one on my list that was most often suggested. One friend shared, “This hymn is my mom in all circumstances.” What a statement. What an image of a strong and caring woman for a daughter to look up to.  What expressions of love – by both demonstrator and observer of this kind of strength.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

And on it goes, repeating the phrase “it is well with my soul” until we start to feel that this seemingly impossible spiritual state is, in fact, possible.

This is a hymn born out of tragedy. The story is quite famous. After suffering financial ruin following the Chicago Fire of 1871, Horatio G. Spafford sent his family to Europe while he cleaned up the mess. The ship they were travelling on was involved in a collision and all four of his daughters died. It was when he passed near the spot of their death, that he wrote these words.   The tune, written later by Philip P. Bliss, is named Ville du Havre, after the ill fated ship.

Once again I am amazed at what emerges from tragedy. How some special souls in our world seem to be able to express, through the deepest pain, something that serves to inspire and uplift us – over time and through generations. The ability to both share and rise above our pain brought me a number of stories about singing this hymn at funerals. It moves us, makes us weep, helps us grieve, and gives us comfort. What struck me, however, was that it is often those who are dying that give us these words of comfort by requesting they be sung. This is a song that allows those left behind to feel assurance. These are words that, when given, allow us to send our loved ones to their eternal rest. That is an enormous gift.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

I get choked up every time I sing “the trump shall resound” because it is a magnificent image.   It implies a welcome of great proportions. It’s the kind of welcome I think we would all like. It’s certainly what we wish for those who go before us. Whether sung at a funeral or not, this hymn brings us to a place of contemplating our soul’s wellness. A place where we can choose to lovingly express and share the deepest strength of our being.  Perhaps that lies in faith; perhaps in choices, integrity, values, relationships, inspiration, beauty or simply contemplation. I wish that, like my friend’s mother, these words described me in all circumstances, maybe one day they will. But even more, I hope I can find the part of me that will give these words to those I love when the time comes that they need them. Those who have done so are beyond inspiring.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

How Great Thou Art

07 Saturday Feb 2015

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O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Powerful imagery. The singing of this hymn always brings to mind a vision of the natural world in all its majesty; all its beauty; all its peacefulness. Such diversity. I love that. Partly because I am a believer in the value of beauty and savouring our experiences of it. Taking things in and allowing them to inspire. Easy to do when we’re in a spectacular natural environment – or a grand cathedral, at a concert or in an art gallery. Not always so easy as we carry out the day to day requirements of our lives.

There are two stories about the words to this hymn. One about the original Swedish version, written by Carl G. Boberg in 1885. The other about the English translator, Stuart K. Hine in the early 1920s. They have more than a few similarities in that they both tell of experiences involving storms and the calm following that inspired the authors to write their texts. It is unclear whether either version is true. Did the same things happen to both?   Or maybe it’s just a common story to find the Divine in the beauty of nature as it is experienced in a variety of ways. Choosing to be awed by the power and magnitude of the earth, of creation and its greatness as we walk through it. Recognizing how small we and our daily tasks are in comparison to the universe and all contained therein.

I don’t think this means what we do each day is unimportant. Quite the opposite. The birds singing sweetly in the trees are small and yet bring so much to the whole picture. As does the gentle breeze and the rolling thunder. The whole is made up of so many parts. So much that is beautiful is like this. It contains what we fear, what we value, what we contribute, our mistakes and what we create.   I find that reassuring. It makes everything I see and experience so much more valuable.   It makes looking at the world through my single lens alone kind of empty, and trying to see it with broader eyes so rewarding. It ensures that I look for the real beauty in our world and it makes my soul want to sing.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!