Like many of you, one of the things I miss most about worshiping together in person is singing together. I’m not a gifted singer by any measure, but there is something powerful about all of our voices joined together and how hymns put words and melodies to our faith in a way that speaking might not. They are able to grasp the wonder of God’s works and “the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.”
One of my favorite hymns is found in our PC(USA) hymnal. I first learned it at the church I served when I was in seminary. It was a tiny church and our musician played the guitar so I learned it to a slightly different sound, but the words are the same:
O Love that wilt not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe, that in thine ocean depths its flow may richer, fuller be.
O Light that followest all my way, I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray, that in thy sunshine’s blaze its day may brighter, fairer be.
O Joy that seekest me through pain, I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain, and feel the promise is not vain that morn shall tearless be.
O Cross that liftest up my head, I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead, and from the ground there blossoms red life that shall endless be.
Whether our souls are weary or our hearts are joyful, we are reminded that God will not let us go. May we all know and comprehend God’s love, light, and joy, even and especially when we are experiencing pain or trouble.
