The power of a Hymn

Today as I sat in church and quietly observed the hustle and bustle of a service getting started, folks getting seated in their usual places, greeting my friends with eye contact and a nod of my head, feeling under-dressed as I did not wear a tie this morning, I began to reflect on a child hood memory. This memory was so strong it was as if my mother and father were behind me, it forced me to sit upright a little more rigid. I could smell the jasmine from the front steps of my home church even. I suddenly felt like swinging my feet under the pew as I did that often without thinking about it until my father’s hand touched my shoulder. But no hand came up to remind me of my absent minded inability to sit still. In a second I was back and my youngest son was squeezing into the seat next to me, no pews here but soft, well upholstered, seats. And in a matter of seconds his feet were swinging under the chair, back and forth. Without thinking my large hand moved to touch his leg as he looked up and I looked down with a warm smile for my boy. I suddenly very much missed my father. And my eyes swelled with moisture, ready to tear. Allergies, was my first thought and it made me laugh inside.

The service started, first one hymn and then another, two of my mothers favorites in a row. Then I was back home in my mind, my mom was working in the kitchen and pantry cleaning and preparing for canning and humming the hymns, back and forth I watched her walk in my mind bringing out all the familiar pots and pans and jars and seals, I went on to imagine her pealing the skins off the tomatoes to can them for my fathers winter habit of slicing and eating them with pepper. I flashed forward to my mother cleaning up after the mess, seeing her hanky hanging out of her dress pocket right at hip height, knowing that if a store bought dress didn’t have one she’d sew one in the seem. I laughed inside and smiled outside not paying a lick of attention to the pulpit-pounding going on at the front.

One memory after another flashed in my mind until the service was over and we began to shake hands and then greet those I missed at the beginning of the morning.

I am amazed at how powerful a memory can be, how rich the detail I can remember of my mothers face at different ages, how beautiful she was, how she could give the slightest smile and yet transmit total and deep love for me. I could feel her pride in me when I had done well and feel her disappointment in me when I had done wrong.

Here are two hymns my mother often hummed around the house; I can feel the words echo in my mind and heart when I hear the music.

This one was sung this morning:

I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go!
Charles H. Gabriel/Carrie E. Rounsefell.

It may not be on the mountain’s height, or over the stormy sea;
It may not be at the battle’s front my Lord will have need of me;
But if by a still, small voice He calls to paths I do not know,
I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in Yours,
I’ll go where You want me to go.
Refrain
I’ll go where You want me to go, dear Lord,
O’er mountain, or plain, or sea;
I’ll say what You want me to say, dear Lord,
I’ll be what You want me to be.
Perhaps today there are loving words which Jesus would have me speak;
There may be now, in the paths of sin, some wand’rer whom I should seek.
O Savior, if You will be my Guide, though dark and rugged the way,
My voice shall echo the message sweet,
I’ll say what You want me to say.
Refrain
There’s surely somewhere a lowly place in earth’s harvest fields so wide,
Where I may labor through life’s short day for Jesus, the Crucified.
So, trusting my all unto Your care, I know You always love me!
I’ll do Your will with a heart sincere,
I’ll be what You want me to be.


My mother would hum songs that I knew the words to and she’d use them to encourage me to do right. One of the memories that flashed before me this morning was of a time when I needed to stand up for myself and make my purpose known to my father and not let it fester.

Of that particular day this hymn came to my mind.

Dare to be a Daniel:
By Philip P. Bliss.

Standing by a purpose true,
Heeding God’s command,
Honor them, the faithful few!
All hail to Daniel’s band!

Dare to be a Daniel,
Dare to stand alone!
Dare to have a purpose firm!
Dare to make it known.
Many mighty men are lost
Daring not to stand,
Who for God had been a host
By joining Daniel’s band.
Refrain
Many giants, great and tall,
Stalking through the land,
Headlong to the earth would fall,
If met by Daniel’s band.
Refrain
Hold the Gospel banner high!
On to vict’ry grand!
Satan and his hosts defy,
And shout for Daniel’s band.
Refrain

[chonsigirl]

Oh Far, that was so beautiful. What a wonderful example your mother was, and for those hymns to be etched in your heart. My favorite hymn is When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder, it always makes me cry. We sung it at my father's funeral, for he died in the service of the Lord on the mission field. It is very hard for me to sit there at the piano on those Sunday mornings or evenings when that hymn is sung, because it makes me think of my father whom I still miss. I can not see the notes as I play, but only see my father's face, and how good he was to me.

When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Refrain

When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.

On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise,
And the glory of His resurrection share;
When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Refrain

Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun,
Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care;
Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

[lady cop]

what a nice thread! i love traditional old hymns, and actually sang in a church choir once. my favorites are old rugged cross, rock of ages, deep river, all the spirituals really. so many i can't recall at the moment.

Originally Posted by chonsigirl

Oh Far, that was so beautiful. What a wonderful example your mother was, and for those hymns to be etched in your heart. My favorite hymn is When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder, it always makes me cry. We sung it at my father's funeral, for he died in the service of the Lord on the mission field. It is very hard for me to sit there at the piano on those Sunday mornings or evenings when that hymn is sung, because it makes me think of my father whom I still miss. I can not see the notes as I play, but only see my father's face, and how good he was to me.

When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Refrain

When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.

On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise,
And the glory of His resurrection share;
When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Refrain

Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun,
Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care;
Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Chonsi Im joining you!!! The music plays in my head as my heart sings the words... deep rich meaningful words.

My moment in church today was not so much from a memory but from the shivers I got from the music being sung. It was a contempory mass, with piano and flute vs. organ but at several points the men's harmony was so tight and beautiful, I shivered and just nodded my head at the beauty. I can't even remember now what that song was but it made me smile nonetheless.

[chonsigirl]

Oh, that was a pretty thought Jab.

The music at my church today was a little peppy-good old Gospel Southern choir song with a beat-since I was the fill-in choir leader for this Sunday. The kind of Southern Gospel you tap your feet to, and clap your hands, and have a good time. Love those bass voices singing.......................

[SweetDarlin]

Well, thanks for the memories... (and the jab to remind me I need to find a new church!)
I've been "church-less" for several months. My faith is no less strong, my walk, no more distant... but I really need to get back into a group of fellow believers... it is so enriching to worship together.

LC- Old Rugged Cross was one of Grandma's faves that she sang to me.. Her very favorite was always, How Great Thou Art:

HOW GREAT THOU ART

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.

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

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.

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

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

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

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

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

words & music by Carl G. Boberg and R.J. Hughes

AMEN, Suite!! The words to How Great Thou Art send a shiver just reading them.

OK, now I'm going to have to go back and sing it too!

[lady cop]

ah Suite, that one brings tears to me also! so powerful.

[Clint]

Far that was an absolutely beautiful piece of writing. It brought memories to my mind that I hadn’t had in many years.

It’s amazing to me what hearing a hymn or a favorite song can do to us. They stir our souls. Is there a more powerful form of communication? I don’t think so.

I could see myself sitting there with my dad and him gently keeping me in line. I could see me there with my son touching him on the knee just as you did. My most fond vision is a recent one. It is of me reinforcing my children as they teach my grandchildren to sit quietly in church like my father and mother taught me and my wife and I passed on to them.

Beautiful indeed.