Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life, ELW 719 and LBW 429
Where cross the crowded ways of life,
where sound the cries of race and clan,
above the noise of selfish strife,
we hear your voice, O Son of Man.
In haunts of wretchedness and need,
on shadowed thresholds dark with fears,
from paths where hide the lures of greed,
we catch the vision of your tears.
From tender childhood’s helplessness,
from human grief and burdened toil,
from famished souls, from sorrow’s stress,
your heart has never known recoil.
The cup of water giv’n for you
still holds freshness of your grace;
yet long these multitudes to view
the strong compassion in your face.
O Master, from the mountainside
make haste to heal these hearts of pain;
among these restless throngs abide;
oh, tread the city’s streets again.
Till all the world shall learn your love
and follow where your feet have trod,
till glorious from your heav’n above
shall come the city of our God.
Devotion
Filled with pathos and yearning, this prayer-hymn acknowledges the fickleness of human nature. It also acknowledges the agonizing pain that sears the hearts of those who know only abandonment and soul-wrenching sorrow. The words and melody combine to move one’s spirit to long for Christ, to come again soon, to deal with sin, sadness, and death once and for all. We cry, “How long, O Lord?” Yet, we also believe that Christ is present in the midst of life’s tragedies and suffers with His people. He will never abandon the “famished soul.” Indeed, God chooses us to be Christ to the other, and as we live out our faith, others can see in us “the strong compassion” of Christ’s “face.” We ourselves can “tread the city’s streets again” and help people experience a little bit of heaven on earth! We are called to such a time as this!
Prayer
Long suffering God, sometimes the chaos and agony of this world would tear our hearts apart and we wonder what to do. We long for the day when You will return and make all things new. Until that time, however, remind us that Christ has already come to save and together, we can “walk the city streets” and “be” the Good News! Amen.