Let Our Ordered Lives Confess The Beauty Of Thy Peace

One of the really lovely things about worshiping in churches around the world is that you encounter new music. As it happens, I was introduced to this hymn–now my very favorite–in our little, beloved Episcopal church in Scotland, only to discover that the beautiful lyrics are from a longer poem by the wonderful American Quaker poet and ardent abolitionist John Greenleaf Whittier. It is one that I return to again and again, and which, I’ll confess, I often play on “repeat” when my inner life is something less than peaceful and quiet. I’m partial to the hymn sung to the tune of “Repton” by Parry (the more common tune in the US is sung to “Rest” by Frederick Charles Maker). The recording I most often return to is by Welsh mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins (see and hear below.)

And here are the words, well worth treasuring:

Dear Lord and Father of mankind,

Forgive our foolish ways!

Reclothe us in our rightful mind,

In purer lives Thy service find,

In deeper reverence, praise.

In simple trust like theirs who heard

Beside the Syrian sea

The gracious calling of the Lord,

Let us, like them, without a word

Rise up and follow Thee.

O Sabbath rest by Galilee!

O calm of hills above,

Where Jesus knelt to share with Thee

The silence of eternity

Interpreted by love!

With that deep hush subduing all

Our words and works that drown

The tender whisper of Thy call,

As noiseless let Thy blessing fall

As fell Thy manna down.

Drop Thy still dews of quietness,

Till all our strivings cease;

Take from our souls the strain and stress,

And let our ordered lives confess

The beauty of Thy peace.

Breathe through the heats of our desire

Thy coolness and Thy balm;

Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;

Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,

O still, small voice of calm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neAdT1SLR10

Let Our Ordered Lives Confess The Beauty of Thy Peace