Hymns along the pilgrim journey inspire and encourage through messages, melodies, and rhythms. They instill order and focus. The themes reflect on God. The words are crafted in regular meters. The tunes help us share the message in fellowship with other faithful pilgrims. The beat keeps us moving forward in rhythm with the words and with one another.
Just as hymn singing requires ordered behavior so that we can share the words and music in fellowship, growing together in faith requires an ordered path with careful preparation and a common focus. The order must be divine. The preparation must be humble. The focus must be holy. Our own ways are not good enough. We must set our minds and our hearts and our hands on the ways of God.
John Greenleaf Whittier captured a deep and meaningful expression of this idea in his hymn Dear Lord and Father of Mankind. Left to ourselves we follow foolish ways. Through the renewing of our minds, though, we learn God’s ways. Ponder the words of the first verse.
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.
As we journey to the foot of the cross, let us heed these words. Let us abandon our own ways and conduct ourselves according to God’s order as revealed in scripture and expressed through the life and example of Christ Jesus. Let the journey be a reflection of our dedication and commitment to God and to His children.
Follow the Path!
CARadke
[Use with Days of Creation, day 2 of A Labyrinth Pilgrimage]