Monthly Archives: May 2015

I Know Not Why God’s Wondrous Grace

30 Saturday May 2015

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When this hymn was suggested to me by a friend, I hadn’t thought of it in many years. I can’t recall singing it recently, but it sure reminded me of my childhood. I’m not sure why, perhaps it we sang it often at the church my family attended at the time. It’s very familiar and I kind of like it, in a sentimental way.

The words were written by Daniel Whittle around 1883. He was influenced by Dwight L. Moody to become an evangelist and travelled throughout the United States and Great Britain preaching and being accompanied by popular gospel singers of the time, including Philip Bliss and James McGranahan, who wrote the music.

I know not why God’s wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, with mercy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.

Refrain: But I know Whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.

I know not how this saving faith
To me He did impart,
Nor how believing in His Word
Wrought peace within my heart.

I know not how the Spirit moves,
Convincing us of sin,
Revealing Jesus through the Word,
Creating faith in Him.

I know not when my Lord may come,
At night or noonday fair,
Nor if I’ll walk the vale with Him,
Or meet Him in the air.

This is a hymn of contrasts. The verses describe everything we cannot know. We cannot understand God’s grace, we cannot comprehend God’s Spirit, we don’t really understand why faith brings us peace and we don’t know what the future holds. And yet, the refrain professes a confidence in a belief that carries us – and everything we struggle with – to the end of earthly life. I suppose this is at the crux of what faith is. Understanding that we simply do not have all the answers, but believing in something anyway. Regardless of the details of what we don’t understand or what we believe, this is difficult. Sometimes trusting that there is something that can carry the weight we bear in this life seems impossible.

I guess I kind of like that contrast.  I kind of like that this hymn acknowledges the struggle. In an era obsessed with sound bites that claim absolutes and complete philosophies reduced to a sentence, or less, I’m fine with not knowing. I don’t really need all the answers.  Sometimes it’s enough to know that the foundation I’ve chosen, I’ve built and I stand on, will survive the challenges and questions; the debates and arguments; and even the unknown. Sometimes survival includes improvements. Sometimes it means expansion and growth. Sometimes it means necessary reductions. Whatever foundation you choose for your life, build it well and make it strong. Use strong materials, know what they are, and then let them guide and support you through this unknowable life.

Breathe On Me, Breath Of God

23 Saturday May 2015

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This Sunday is Pentecost. As I looked into the history and meaning of this day, I found that the word Pentecost comes from the Greek name for Shavuot, the feast commemorating the giving of the Law of Sinai, celebrated in Judaism. As is common with many Christians feast days, it was later “borrowed” to mark the day that the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles and other followers of Jesus.

The concept of the Holy Spirit is interesting to me. It comes up in a number of religions; Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Baha’i, to name a few. There are slightly different interpretations of what this spirit is, but the common link is that the Holy Spirit is a conduit of God’s wisdom. That is powerful and scary all at the same time.   Powerful because the possibility of receiving Divine wisdom is extraordinary. Scary because we are human, and separating our own views, ideas and words from something greater than us, is challenging.

The words of this hymn reflect the kind of humility required to find that wisdom. The need to receive the breath of wisdom in order to access the depth of its knowledge.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
fill me with life anew,
that I may love what thou dost love,
and do what thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
until my heart is pure,
until with thee I will one will,
to do and to endure.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
till I am wholly thine,
till all this earthly part of me
glows with thy fire divine.

These words were written by Edwin Hatch in 1878. He was a well educated man who taught the Classics and early Church History at Oxford. Yet these are fairly simple words. He seemed to understand the profound need for us to be humble and disciplined as we seek unity with God. It seems to me, that humility is rare in most of our religious circles these days. There is much posturing to be right; to speak as if our own ideas, interpretations and traditions are, in fact, the wisdom of God. And, as a result much division, much conflict and much pain.

As I continued to look into this idea of wisdom, the word Sophia kept coming up. This is probably a less known concept than the basic Pentecost story, but it was familiar to me. Sophia is the Greek word for wisdom and in some traditions, represents the feminine aspect of God. It is said that it is Sophia, or Hagia Sophia (holy wisdom) that circulates through, and binds together the community. This is appealing to me. I like the idea that the Holy Spirit – Wisdom – is the thing that can unify us. Challenging, yes, because finding and receiving this spirit requires, perhaps, more humility than most of us can claim. But, on the Feast of Pentecost that is often called the birth of the Church, what a great way to consider this gift. May the Spirit of Wisdom unite you with whomever your community is. May it guide you and provide a space of peace.

 

Jesus Loves Me

16 Saturday May 2015

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We have another children’s song this week. I’m sure most will know this one, will have sung it as a child and probably can sing it from memory still. It may be the most well known Sunday School song out there and recently I listened to our congregation sing it during a children’s feature and all the kids, young and old, knew the words and sang along. So why is this one so enduring?

The origin of the text is interesting. It was actually a poem penned by Anna Bartlett Warner in 1860, to be used in a novel written by her sister, Susan Warner. The words were meant to comfort a dying child in the story. The original poem is full of comforting thoughts surrounding the strength of Jesus in contrast to the child’s weakness and the assurance of being carried to heaven when death arrives. Comforting, perhaps, but also pretty bleak and very sad.

Jesus loves me—this I know,
For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to him belong,
They are weak, but he is strong.

Jesus loves me—loves me still,
Though I’m very weak and ill;
From his shining throne on high,
Comes to watch me where I lie.

Jesus loves me—he will stay,
Close beside me all the way.
Then his little child will take,
Up to heaven for his dear sake.

I suppose we all need something to carry us through the most difficult of moments. This hymn started its life as a means to do that. What could be more difficult than the death of a child. Surely we all look for ways to provide comfort in these moments; to give hope in situations that seem completely hopeless. I think the simplicity of this song and its sentiment of assurance that someone loves us enough to carry us through something horrific, is what makes it endure. It’s a child’s understanding of how to cope. Someone loves me, I’ll be okay.

I appreciate that this is probably not a complete answer to many of our challenges. But there is something in the innocence of this belief that we can learn from. Both as givers and receivers of unconditional love. This kind of love doesn’t solve our problems or eliminate suffering. What it does is makes things just a little more bearable. To face life’s challenges without it seems so lonely and sad; almost inconceivable to those of us fortunate enough to have found a loving foundation to stand on. My hope is that we all find this kind of assurance and care, be it spiritual or earthly. My hope is also that we share this kind of assurance and care – through our lives, our actions and our voices.

Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

09 Saturday May 2015

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Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before thee, praising thee their sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away.
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!

This is widely known as the Hymn to Joy. Probably the most popular hymn tune I’ve tackled this year. A tune that even my youngest piano students are familiar with and are happy to learn how to play. A tune that routinely shows up in movies and commercials. A hymn often sung, and part of a symphony regularly performed. We have Beethoven to thank for his exuberant Ode to Joy (1823) and Henry van Dyke for the poetry (1907) that together express this joy and allow us to participate in its singing.

This hymn celebrates sheer joy. It celebrates nature, love, friendship and the ability of music to lift us above all we encounter. It is a song of life – a song for living the lives we are given. So I chose to place it on Mother’s Day. What better way to celebrate our mothers than to live our lives fully. For the women that birthed us, for those that chose us, for those that raised us, for those that cared for us from afar, for those that took on the role of mentor and loved us. Their work, their tears, their struggles, their determination, their failings, their successes have all prepared us for our lives. They are a reflection of the creative power that fills our world.

All Thy works with joy surround thee, earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around thee, center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, blooming meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in Thee.

Mother’s do not always succeed. But choosing to live joyfully, allows us the space to forgive. Joy provides a window into a kind of love that sees beyond our failings and our mistakes.

Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blessed,
Wellspring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, all who live in love are thine.
Teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.

This is a hymn we sing together – as children and as mothers.   I suppose we are all capable of participating in the act of mothering at some point in our lives. Of providing what is needed for growth.  I am once again thankful that music can remind me of this. I am hopeful that I will always choose to sing joyfully.  But if I cannot, I hope I will still hear the happy chorus that does, filled with mothers, sons and daughters, and be reassured that joy exists.

Mortals, join the happy chorus, which the morning stars began;
Love divine is reigning o’er us, leading us with mercy’s hand.
Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music lifts us sunward in the triumph song of life.

Happy Mother’s Day!

When Morning Gilds The Skies

02 Saturday May 2015

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The hymn for this week definitely gets the prize for the best title. What a beautiful image – I’m sure we can all visualize a spectacular sunrise filling the sky with golden beauty. It is my great fortune to be sitting in a sun-filled room as I write this, with the fresh spring air coming through windows that have finally been opened after a long winter.

The words for the hymn originate in a German text from the mid 1700s, and were translated into English in 1854. It was set to this tune in 1868 by Joseph Barnby, and was sung for the first time it St. Paul’s Cathedral in London that year. If you’ve been in that space, one can easily imagine the combined beauty of the song with the architecture – it must have been a lovely experience!

This is quite simply a song of praise and gratitude. An exquisite collection of statements expressing that in beauty, in pain, in sadness, in darkness and in light, praise is given. There were, reportedly, 28 verses in the original hymn. I suppose that kind of length makes sense if we’re trying to imagine every scenario life offers; every state of being that we can rise up from and fill our minds and hearts with praise.

When morning gilds the skies,
My heart awaking cries:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Alike at work and prayer,
On him I cast my care.
May Jesus Christ be praised!

Does sadness fill my mind?
A solace here I find,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Or fades my earthly bliss?
My comfort still is this,
May Jesus Christ be praised!

The night becomes as day
When from the heart we say:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
In heaven’s eternal bliss
The loveliest strain is this:
May Jesus Christ be praised!

I hadn’t heard this one in a while, but am so glad it was suggested to me. I can understand how it could be a favourite. It has beautiful words and a beautiful tune. It has a beautiful message. Life has much in it, good and bad, but beauty prevails. It might be the beauty of the Divine or the beauty of faith. Maybe for you it’s the beauty found in nature, or poetry, art, literature, or music. We all have the opportunity to find something that anchors us. Something we can return to despite our earthly circumstances. Something that becomes our eternal song, our song of praise. Something that allows us to see the possibility of gilded skies.

Be this, while life is mine,
My canticle divine:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this the eternal song,
Through all the ages long:
May Jesus Christ be praised!