Sometimes I sing Frederick Atkinson's hymn, pray the hymn - and partially, mostly I suppose, I mean it.
Spirit of God, descend upon my heart
Wean it from earth, through all its pulses move
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art
And help me love Thee, as I ought to love.
Wean my heart from earth, I pray.
There is a kind of 'love of the world' that the Scriptures forbid - that world that is 'too much with us.' There is another 'love of the world' which is simply a deep appreciation for the Creation, for what God has made and declared to be 'good' - an appreciation in this world of the good things and the good of things, the stuff of life, health, family, friendships, nature's beauty and bounty - that is perfectly right, enjoined really - a world that we should embrace.
But even the blest things of that 'good earth' are gradually removed from us - or us from them.
Wean me from earth . . .
Whether I mean it or not, or could it stop it or not - God takes me up on my prayer. He weans me from earth - takes away the things, the people I think I could not possibly do without. He gradually removes - youth, earthly anticipations and dreams, at some point our job, spouse, family members and dear ones, our friend(s) - and eventually sooner or later our bodily vigour, beauty, health and strength. And lastly, he takes our earthly life.
I will die; this may be the year. I really ought to face up to that.
But you can't threaten a Christian with Heaven - and God takes away that He may give back again, in greater measure - in new (and perhaps even better?) shapes and forms - a new Life, a new World - a new Heaven and a new Earth. Maybe He'll say: Here's a planet or two to be explored, developed - go ahead: knock yourself out. Enjoy !
Mostly I don't like this weaning process. Mostly it hurts. It takes a lot of faith and hope that eventually, ultimately the hurting will heal. Or maybe just enough faith that my heart can hold fast in these days to that Deep Heart of the universe who became what I am that I might become what He is.
2 Corinthians 8:9
You know the grace of the Lord Jesus, how that though He was rich He became poor, that we through His poverty might become rich.
Psalm 31
1 My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.
2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.
3 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore.
Spirit of God, descend upon my heart
Wean it from earth, through all its pulses move
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art
And help me love Thee, as I ought to love.
Wean my heart from earth, I pray.
There is a kind of 'love of the world' that the Scriptures forbid - that world that is 'too much with us.' There is another 'love of the world' which is simply a deep appreciation for the Creation, for what God has made and declared to be 'good' - an appreciation in this world of the good things and the good of things, the stuff of life, health, family, friendships, nature's beauty and bounty - that is perfectly right, enjoined really - a world that we should embrace.
But even the blest things of that 'good earth' are gradually removed from us - or us from them.
Wean me from earth . . .
Whether I mean it or not, or could it stop it or not - God takes me up on my prayer. He weans me from earth - takes away the things, the people I think I could not possibly do without. He gradually removes - youth, earthly anticipations and dreams, at some point our job, spouse, family members and dear ones, our friend(s) - and eventually sooner or later our bodily vigour, beauty, health and strength. And lastly, he takes our earthly life.
I will die; this may be the year. I really ought to face up to that.
But you can't threaten a Christian with Heaven - and God takes away that He may give back again, in greater measure - in new (and perhaps even better?) shapes and forms - a new Life, a new World - a new Heaven and a new Earth. Maybe He'll say: Here's a planet or two to be explored, developed - go ahead: knock yourself out. Enjoy !
Mostly I don't like this weaning process. Mostly it hurts. It takes a lot of faith and hope that eventually, ultimately the hurting will heal. Or maybe just enough faith that my heart can hold fast in these days to that Deep Heart of the universe who became what I am that I might become what He is.
2 Corinthians 8:9
You know the grace of the Lord Jesus, how that though He was rich He became poor, that we through His poverty might become rich.
Psalm 31
1 My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.
2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.
3 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore.
No comments:
Post a Comment