Northern Lights - Part 2

I mentioned in Part 1 how difficult it can be to see the Northern lights when the sky is cloudy or there is too much light from the city. This brought to mind I Corinthians 13:12 - "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." (KJV) The first part of the verse seems especially relevant. I often remind myself that there are so many things which will be revealed to us later - things which puzzle or confuse us, things that don't seem to make sense in this life. (Sometimes I also wonder if any of those questions will matter in eternity...) No matter how much we think we can understand God and what is required of us, the more there is to learn and see in the Christian life. Like the Northern lights in the city, there is more to God's glorious presence which will be revealed to us when the clouds part and Christ returns.

(This is not my photo and must have been taken away from the city lights to see such definitive streaks of colour, not to mention the stars as well.)

Northern Lights - Part 1

The Northern lights were out last night, sweeping their green and glorious path across the cloudy sky. As I checked the windows before heading to bed, I looked out 'just to see' - Are the Northern lights out tonight? It's been awhile since I've seen them, and living in the city as I do, it isn't all that easy to catch a glimpse of that amazing sight. They truly are awesome (ie., they inspire awe) to me and serve to remind me what an almighty God I serve. His creativity is beyond comprehension!

Sometimes, the Northern lights are more ribbon like and can be seen as one long, flowing line as you look northward. Last night they were swirling all around the midnight sky. Imagine mixing melted chocolate into cake batter or the swirls in marble paper and you will have a good idea what it looked like. I have seen them this way only once before that I can recall and that was about 25 years ago and 2 hours away from city lights. The sight was even more magnificent!

All this led me to wonder if there are any hymns which mention the Northern lights. I couldn't think of any, but a quick search brought two results. The first is verse 2 of a hymnal version of the lyrics for O Canada, written by Albert D. Watson.

Almighty Love, by Thy mysterious power,
In wisdom guide, with faith and freedom dower;
Be ours a nation evermore
That no oppression blights,
Where justice rules from shore to shore,
From lakes to northern lights.
May love alone for wrong atone;

Refrain:

Lord of the lands, make Canada Thine own:
Lord of the lands, make Canada Thine own!

The second result brought lyrics by Catherine MacLean, copyright 2008 by The United Church of Canada. You can read them here.

Organic history

As much as we might like to deny it at times, we are inevitably linked to the past. Sometimes this is a painful thing, especially when it seems we don't learn enough from history to avoid making the same mistakes again. However, there are also instances when linking our present life to history is inspiring and uplifting.

I recently read in this magazine about a Spanish pipe organ restoration which took place last year. The present day workers found a letter dated Feb. 27, 1829 which was hidden deep in the workings of the organ by young apprentices when the instrument was built in 1828-29. They knew that only future organ builders would find this document in which they outlined their credentials and asked for prayers on their behalf. The restoration experts copied the letter and wrote their own note on the back, saying that they hoped it would be a good long time before it was discovered (180 years?) as they had tried to do their job correctly. The beautiful music produced by the organ since it was built, and the music it will still yield now that it has been restored is a testimony to those who worked many years ago to build something that would outlast them - built to the glory of God.

The above was first printed in the June 28/09 bulletin for St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Winnipeg. I write a section called "Noteworthy Musings" which includes information about hymns, anthems, and other music included in the service from week to week. When I began to blog, I purposely decided not to duplicate posts from one to the other. This is an exception - just because it's summer!

An oops!

Today I was leafing through the binder where I record the hymns/songs we sing each week at St. Andrew's looking for a certain hymn. I came across this: "O breath of life, come (swapping) sweeping through us". Something or someone must have distracted me while I was writing down the title! (You might think for a musician, particularly an organist, I'd be able to do more than one thing at once...) I burst out laughing :) Then I thought, this is not a bad mixup of words, in a rather funny way. God's Spirit can sweep through us, and before we know it, things are replaced or swapped for other things. Priorities change, attitudes change, we change - through the power of the Holy Spirit. A good reminder during the season of Pentecost, eh?

"Rabbi, carest Thou not that we perish?"

Sunday's gospel lesson was Mark 4:35-41 where we learn of a stormy boat trip taken by Jesus and his disciples. I have always liked this passage for many reasons. 1. Christ seemed oblivious to the storm; He was asleep. 2. The disciples accused Him of not caring what happened to them. 3. Jesus commanded the wind and waves to be still and they were! 4. The disciples were filled with awe. (And they apparently still did not understand who Jesus was.)

While choosing hymns for the service I recalled this hymn from my early years and would like to share it with you, my reader. It has been many years since I have sung it! You can read a little about how the words were written and hear the tune here.

Master, the tempest is raging! The billows are tossing high!
The sky is o'ershadowed with blackness, No shelter or help is nigh;
Carest Thou not that we perish? How canst Thou lie asleep,
When each moment so madly is threat'ning A grave in the angry deep?

Chorus
The winds and the waves shall obey Thy will, Peace, be still!
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea,
Or demons, or men, or whatever it be,
No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of ocean, and earth, and skies:
They all shall sweetly obey Thy will,
Peace, be still! Peace, be still!
They all shall sweetly obey Thy will,
Peace, peace be still!

Master, with anguish of spirit I bow in my grief today;
The depths of my sad heart are troubled - Oh, waken and save, I pray!
Torrents of sin and of anguish Sweep o'er my sinking soul,
And I perish! I perish! dear Master - Oh, hasten, and take control.

Master, the terror is over, The elements sweetly rest;
Earth's sun in the calm lake is mirrored, And heaven's within my breast;
Linger, O blessed Redeemer! Leave me alone no more,
And with joy I shall make the blest harbor, And rest on the blissful shore.

Words by Mary A. Baker Music by H.R. Palmer

Here might I stay and sing

A wonderful man of God, Dr. Hugh Rae, went home this week. Over the many years that I have known the Rae family, I have one enduring picture in my mind of Dr. Rae. In my mind's eye I see him standing, hands clasped, singing heartily from memory all the verses of CRIMOND. He has walked through "death's dark vale" to the other side and could he still speak, I am sure his testimony would be, "Goodness and mercy all my life [have] surely follow[ed] me."

Earlier this week I had planned to write about another hymn, the one in the title of this post, "My song is love unknown". It will be used during Communion on Sunday and so I have been singing it often this week. There are times when it seems like a good idea to just stay at church singing about God's love rather than facing the world with its struggles. For the Christian, the place and time for unending praise will come in eternity where our only focus will be God - "in whose sweet praise I all my days could gladly spend."

Over the last couple days, these two hymns have come together for me. Dr. Rae, who so obviously loved God and loved singing His praise is now spending all his days doing just that.