Imagine it is the middle of a war and you read the Twenty-Third Psalm. Arriving at the words “He leadeth me,” you are unable to continue. The very idea of being led through extreme difficulty stops you in your tracks. This is the story of Joseph H. Gilmore who wrote the words to this hymn in 1862 during the American Civil War. There is something very powerful about his experience of finding comfort in this sentiment – that the very thing he chose to put his faith in was guiding him through what must have been very dark days.

He leadeth me, O blessed thought!
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.

Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
By waters still, over troubled sea,
Still ’tis His hand that leadeth me.

What struck me as I read this story, was that, in Gilmore’s own words, “…it makes no dif­fer­ence how we are led, or whi­ther we are led, so long as we are sure God is lead­ing us.” It was his faith, his belief that was important, not the details of life or the circumstances in which he found himself. For me, this is a perspective often lost. We live in a time when results are the primary motivation for everything. Success, wealth, fame, recognition. We wish to be led in the right direction – not just led. Our beliefs and values can seem to be constructed to fit the reward, be it material or spiritual. And yet, look around. The diversity in the results people experience is overwhelming. By our popular measures of success, it would seem that very few are following a good leader.  So few achieve the dream we are presented with; the ideal life is hard to attain.

These words are about faith and conviction. They are about the conscious act of allowing whatever it is we believe to guide us. Our obsession with results, makes this seem almost countercultural. We want to win, we want to achieve change, we want to accomplish things, we want to succeed. All can be good, but when we are driven by these things, life is fast and empty. Standing on the foundation of what you believe, what you truly value, provides a better view – of the good and of the bad. Taking in that view is worthwhile, providing boundless opportunities for ourselves and those around us; for our world and our communities. So, really look to whatever leads you – if you have chosen wisely, it will carry you wherever you need to go.

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.

Holy, Holy, Holy.

Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, Holy, Holy! Merciful and Mighty!
God in three persons, blessed trinity!

This is another very familiar hymn – one I know extremely well and could probably almost sing from memory. It was written by Reginald Heber in 1826 for Trinity Sunday, the day that has traditionally celebrated the doctrine of the Holy Trinity established by the Council of Nicaea in 325. The tune, written by John B. Dykes in 1861, named Nicaea, also commemorates this significant event.

Well, that’s the history. And, no, it isn’t Trinity Sunday this week (that would be the first Sunday following Pentecost – sometime in the spring). This one came to my list with a story that had nothing to do with its history; little to do with the meaning of its words. This story is about a five year old child struggling in new surroundings and being encouraged by this hymn. Attending a small church that had a time of song requests at the end of their service, this child would often ask to sing this hymn – to the amusement of the adults! But they would sing it enthusiastically and the memory of this community support has stayed with my friend into adulthood. Partly because they indulged him, and partly because it created an image of a united group, walking through life together.

It’s interesting to me how powerful our communities can be. How much they can carry us through our lives. How much they shape the way we interact with our world.   This story once again reminds me that we have no idea what the impact of listening to, and really hearing, a small voice will be. There are always consequences to how we respond to the voices around us. We can encourage, discourage, challenge, inspire, deflate and support.   We can educate and be educated. We can tear down or we can build. Sometimes it’s difficult to figure out which response is the positive one, but the lesson I take from this child’s experience is that to be heard is the starting point.

Finding a community that encourages our voices is truly a gift. Being a community that listens, is both a challenge and a privilege. So early in the morning when our songs are rising, I hope there is space to hear all who wish to sing.

Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea;
Holy, Holy, Holy! Merciful and Mighty!
God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Lead Me, Lord.

This week’s hymn comes to us from a friend who said that he often found himself praying this hymn when he needed guidance or direction. I thought that was a beautiful way to think of a hymn – as a prayer. I know many hymns are just that, but this is a tiny gem that asks very simply for a clear view of where to go and how to find safety.

Lead me, Lord, lead me in thy righteousness,
make thy way plain before my face.
For it is thou, Lord, thou, Lord only,
that makest me dwell in safety.

I couldn’t find a great deal of information about this hymn but it was written in 1861 by Samuel Sebastian Wesley, the grandson of the more famous hymn writer Charles Wesley. At the time it was popular to write what were known as verse anthems. These were multi-sectional pieces designed, in combination with unison and choral parts, to show off the talents of the various soloists within a church choir. Lead Me Lord is an excerpt from one of these longer anthems, Praise the Lord, O My Soul.

I think the sentiment of these words is quite powerful. The idea that walking in righteousness clarifies our path and leads to safety is something to consider.   I appreciate that the language used here carries a bit of baggage for some of us – righteousness sounds a bit close to self-righteous and implies a very specific way of understanding the world. But when I look at what righteousness actually means – justice, decency, honesty – I find myself thinking that this is, indeed, a way to clarify the path I want to be on. Making decisions about how I want to live based on the notion of justice also leads me on a very specific path. And, the safety found on that path is beyond my own. Justice requires safety for all. For me, to dwell in safety requires a broader understanding than simply a personal space for myself and those closest to me. Safety of the few is thin; and it is unjust.

So as I pray this hymn, my hope is that I will see clearly the path of real righteousness and that I will have the courage to walk that path. A path that is paved with justice and provides safety for all. This is where I wish to dwell.

Amazing Grace.

Come, Let Us All Unite To Sing.

Come, let us all unite to sing: God is love!
Let Heav’n and earth their praises bring,
God is love! Let every soul from sin awake,
Let every heart sweet music make,
And sing with us for Jesus’ sake: God is love!

This week’s hymn is pretty cheerful. It basically says, everyone join in and sing. Sing because God is love. I suppose that’s as good a reason to sing as any, the idea that this Divine being is love. It’s kind of a grand concept. Not simply that God loves us or that we love God, but that God is love.

I must admit that love is another one of our commonly used words that is actually quite difficult to define. We understand it as a feeling of affection, attraction or devotion and a means of expression. Something that compels us to act in a particular way. Something that can shape our views, our actions and our decisions. But, for something or someone to be love, seems beyond our usual definitions.

How happy is our portion here, God is love!
His promises our spirits cheer, God is love!
He is our sun and shield by day,
Our help, our hope, our strength and stay;
He will be with us all the way; God is love!

The words of this hymn first appeared in an American songbook called Millenial Praises in 1812. It is unknown who wrote them, although they are sometimes attributed to Howard Kingsbury (unlikely, as he was only born in 1842!). It’s interesting to me that they are so pleasant. Filled with images of sweet music, happiness, sunshine, hope and strength.  Sing praises and all will be well. While I will be the first to suggest that music can uplift, and that the act of praise, in whatever form or tradition you choose to practice it, may also boost the spirit, life doesn’t magically become all we desire just because we’re singing praises.

So I struggle with these kinds of words. If we can’t praise, do we become sad? If we are struggling, hopeless, depressed, sick or weak are we unable to praise? Have we failed? I don’t think so. I think we have just been unable to define love very well. Love encompasses us completely.  Not just the happy bits, not just what looks or feels good. To me, these cheerful words are only part of the story. I’m happy to unite to sing, but love is about more than sunshine and so I also need us to sing in and about the rain.

Unite to sing whatever words or tune you know. There is much to be found in the unity of singing together.  But if you find yourself in a moment where you have no song, simply listen – the rest of us will sing.  And we will fill our voices with whatever love we have.

God is love! God is love!
Come let us all unite to sing that God is love.

Be Still My Soul.