I stand amazed in the Presence . . . (Charles Gabriel)
On this crisp fall day, I am sitting by my fire, watching the wind send leaves swirling around and around. Refrains from different old hymns frequently float through my mind in much the same way as the autumn leaves that I am watching drift to the ground. I wonder from what brain cell or unseen Presence they come.
And he will raise you up on eagle’s wings . . .
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided . . .
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn . . .
God is not dead nor does He sleep. The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on earth, good will to men . . .
When peace like a river attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll . . . No matter my lot, thou has taught me to say, It is well, It is well, With my soul.
Angels from the realms of glory, wing their flight o’er all the earth . . .
Oh, God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home . . .
I come to the garden alone, While the dew is still on the roses . . .
Shall we gather at the river, Where bright angel feet have trod, With its crystal tide forever, Flowing by the throne of God . . .
The wind and the waves shall obey my will. Peace, be still . . .
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love . . .
Here I raise mine Ebenezer, Hither by thy help I’ve come . . .
Lift up the fallen . . .
Abide with me, fast falls the eventide . . .
‘Til I reach the golden strand, just beyond the river . . .
Thou art all compassion, pure unbounded love thou art . . .
Then sings my soul . . .
I am so very grateful that the rich imagery of these old hymns, and so many, many more, are written on the pages of my psyche. Over the years, we each forge our faith out of a myriad of experiences, facts, imaginings, teachings . . . As a child, I believed these words literally, and still, the Child who lives within me believes these images all the way down to her core. The adult sometimes has trouble.
But always, always, when I can hear and feel these words inside of me . . . then I Know.