Sunday, August 19, 2012

"Oh love that will not let me go"

Today at church we sang one of my favorite hymns.

If you'd have asked me a few years ago what my favorite hymn was, I'd have looked a little confused then probably blurted out "Amazing Grace"...as that is the only one I knew. But nowadays we sing hymns each Sunday and each Sunday I am struck by the simple pleas and prayers that each word will evoke. Beautiful.

But now I have one. Now, each time I see "Oh love that will not let me go" on the program I know I will have to choke back tears. That I will have to confront the immense knowledge that we will survive and thrive this sadness ( and others) because of only Gods great love. This great and strong and constant love.

"Oh love that will not let me go"
George Matheson

O Love that will 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.


My favorite line is "oh joy that seekest me through the pain, I cannot close my heart to thee" for obvious reasons. It reminds me again that joy will be my strength and that I am incapable of turning my back on the One who holds me closely. And while I feel often how difficult and sad this place I emotionally reside at is, I also am put to ease that another human felt some sort of great sadness and chose to claim joy, write it down and put a melody to it so that I can sing it on a Sunday morning when I hurt.




6 comments:

  1. Beautiful. Thank you for sharing - I cannot tell you how timely it was!

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  2. Thanks Susannah. Thanks for pointing out that phrase.

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  3. I, too, love that sweet hymn for those same reasons. Grateful that despite all circumstances He continues to hold us close and will not let go. Ever.

    Much love from Rome!

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  4. i love you and am grateful that you have these gems to hold onto amidst the ashes.

    mj

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  5. "On Eagle's Wings" has been my favorite since I was 5 or 6.

    You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord
    Who abide in His shadow for light
    Seek to the Lord, my Refuge
    My Rock, in Whom I trust

    And He will raise you up on Eagle's Wings
    Bear you on the breath of dawn
    Make you to shine like the sun
    And hold you in the Palms..
    Of His hands

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