O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go (SBH 402, focus on verses 1-2)
1 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.
2 O Light that follows all my way,
I yield my flick’ring torch to thee.
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
that in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
may brighter, fairer be.
3 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.
4 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.
Devotion
I began my ministry in rural Wausau, WI. The red Service Book and Hymnal was still in use, but the green Lutheran Book of Worship was just out that year, 1978. Yes, I am that old! Under the “Aspiration” section of hymns in the SBH was this one that I grew to love. It was both an inspiration and comfort for a newbie in the parish. Its author, George Matheson, was born in Glasgow, March 27, 1842, and although deprived of his eyesight in youth, he passed a brilliant course at the University of Edinburgh, where he graduated with an M.A. in 1862. His blindness motivated him as he sought and praised the God who, despite his hardship, would not let him go. This reminds me of God’s guidance of Israel with the pillar of light and fire in Exodus. For me, reflecting this week on freedom, has reconfirmed my never wanting to be freed from the love and light of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Lord, hold us in love. Follow us with your light. As we give back in service, restore us when the rays dim, so that the blaze of your Son may brighter, richer, fairer, and fuller be. Amen.