Hymns for Right Now

 

Dear Friends

As a known lover of hymns---tunes and texts---it may not surprise you that there are several hymns that came to mind and heart yesterday. When Pennsylvania was projected for Biden, I was filled with relief and joy. It made me think of “Now Thank We All Our God” and “Alleluia, Alleluia, Give Thanks to the Risen Lord”.

But what is far more important right now than how I or anyone is feeling about the results, and I recognize that many I love and respect are disappointed or devastated, is to do my part to help heal the nation we all love. While I think we have elected someone who can set a better tone in order to do that, in contrast to what we have been experiencing for the past four years, nothing can happen without my intentional, active participation.

And so hear are some other hymns that I would offer which everyone can claim:

“Dear Lord and Father of Mankind, forgive (all of us, for all) our foolish ways” but also, thank God, “There’s a wideness in God’s mercy (for all of us”).

Finally, the opening hymn at today’s service at out nation’s (and proudly also the Episcopal Church’s) Washington National Cathedral, is worth sharing in its entirety:

Judge eternal, throned in splendor, Lord of lords and King of kings,

With thy living fire of judgement, purge this land of bitter things,

Solace all its wide dominion with the healing of thy wings.

 

Still the weary folk are pining for the hour that brings release,

And the city’s crowded clangor cries aloud for sin to cease,

And the homesteads and the woodlands plead in silence for their peace.

 

Crown, O God, thine own endeavor, cleave our darkness with thy sword,

Feed all those who do not know thee with the richness of thy word,

Cleanse the body of this nation through the glory of the Lord.

By its nature, politics divides. But by and with God’s help, we can continue to pray and work and act and enjoy living in “one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all” and build not a perfect but a more “perfect union”.

John

P.S There are a lot of other hymns I could quote but don’t forget the scriptures. Now that we’ve elected “46”, check out Psalm 46 (and the hymn it inspired “A Mighty Fortress is our God”). I think it is quite timely. And don’t forget Ephesians 4:1-16, which is all about unity.