Often as part of my own personal spiritual rhythm, God speaks to me through music and hymns. A piece of that for me is the opportunity to be creative in writing words that are set to traditional hymn tunes.
Last night, I was pondering the conversation within our Anglican Church of Canada around changing the marriage canon to allow for same gender couples to be included. This is a complex conversation influenced by different perspectives, beliefs and interpretations. However, if we are to be faithful to God, we must keep ourselves spiritually attuned and engaged with what the Holy Spirit is doing among us and through us.
The words to this hymn reflect my prayer that we as faithful followers of Christ and as children of God will walk the pilgrim road before us attentive and aware that God is walking it with us. God's truth inspires us; God's Spirit speaks to us; and we are called to join in building and promoting the reign of God that is both here now and yet to come.
I pray that this hymn may invite us to be intentional about making sure that our spirituality and following the leading of the Holy Spirit is at the center of all we do; the conversations we have; and the decisions we make.
It is set to a tune which is a personal favorite of mine, best known for it's use in Holy Week and on Good Friday.
Please pray it with me ... and may God's Spirit be what guides us as we faithfully discern and live out our call to "seek and serve Christ in all people loving our neighbors as ourselves" and to " work for justice and peace among all people, respecting the dignity of every human being."
We Listen for God’s Truth
Tune: Locw Unknown
Meter: 66 66 44 44
We listen
for God’s truth
O Spirit
speak your Word;
The gospel
calls each one,
our open
hearts to stir.
We long to
see the way ahead
A people God
has called and led.
We need your
guidance God
To live our
faith each day
Our human
lives are flawed,
we come to
you to pray.
Grant us
discernment by your grace
And see you
in this holy space.
We walk a
pilgrim road
Attentive and
aware
Your blessings
are bestowed
We’re called
to thank you and share.
A way of
life we walk each day
Assist us
not to go astray.
Speak
through each thought and prayer
Your will be
our desire
To love and
always care
A faithful
life inspire.
We’re called
to follow Jesus’ way
God’s reign rejoicing
to display.
Text: copyright, The Rev. Canon Mark Kinghan, 2016. Not to be reproduced or redistributed in any form without the express written permission of the author.
