LIFE LESSONS
Bringing the Light Virginia Hughes
HERE IS LOVE Here is love, vast as the ocean, loving-kindness as the flood, when the Prince of Life, our Ransom, shed for us His precious blood. Who His love will not remember? Who can cease to sing His praise? He can never be forgotten throughout heav'n's eternal days. As I pray for revival in my heart, renewal in my mind and words to express ideas, there are times when I come up short, ideas don’t come together, energy is absent, my faith sits flat and uninspiring. I may be tired, burnt out, in mourning or otherwise convinced I have nothing left to give. Numbness repels the healing words from Scripture, a dazed malaise keeps me from reaching out to an encouraging friend of the faith. Not wanting to remain in a stuck kind of place, I ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit and strains from an old hymn come to mind, reminding me of truths I know well. The beautiful old hymn, “Here is Love,” has a history of revival ties. The hymn was written by William Rees, a minister from Wales and gained momentum when sung during the great revival of Christianity which swept through Wales in 1904. At that time, thousands of new converts came to Christ, church buildings overflowed, other revivals came about, and this particular movement became known as the Welsh Revival of 1904. The hymn was eventually translated from Welsh into English by William Edwards, additional stanzas added over the years and the lyrics set to the tune most recognized today. Contemporary Christian artists have rediscovered the hymn and added a few verses and style tweaks, while older versions of the hymn are also available online. The lyrics stand as one of the most powerful hymns ever penned describing God’s unmeasurable love through the imagery of vast oceans, floods of mercy and rivers of grace. I hope you will allow this beautiful picture of God’s love to wash over you and may his Holy Spirit ignite, revive, and help us bring the light to our families and neighbors. Following are the words to the first two stanzas standing alone and then the hymn printed again with my thoughts interjected.
12
On the mount of crucifixion fountains opened deep and wide; through the floodgates of God's mercy flowed a vast and gracious tide. Grace and love, like mighty rivers, poured incessant from above, and heav'n's peace and perfect justice kissed a guilty world in love. Here is Love Vast as the Ocean In all directions blue, white, grey, salt spray. Jesus grilled fish by the sea and today, my hands could be Helping Hands, as I take a simple meal to one knocked down by life. I may offer sustenance and joy. There is always some way I can help and share. When brothers and sisters care, his love is here. May I love far better in the ways I feed his sheep. Loving kindness as the flood Floods of loving kindness enter, family disagreements heal when gentle understanding replaces hasty words. Continual prayer is a balm of scented, healing oil and its brightness opens doors with rays of warmth. Kindness dances down the street as neighbor shovels neighbor’s snowy driveway, and greetings share with one who lives alone. Here is love like a warm blanket. Here is a fresh loaf of bread. Here is an invitation to be included. Let me be the church who practices loving kindness. Let me be the town who loves the state, and the state who shows the country how to love.
