Tuesday, December 8, 2009

How can I keep from singing?

My life flows on in endless song:
Above earth's lamentation,
I catch the sweet, tho' far-off hymn
That hails a new creation.

Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear the music ringing;
It finds an echo in my soul--
How can I keep from singing?

What tho' my joys and comfort die?
The Lord my Saviour liveth;
What tho' the darkness gather round?
Songs in the night he giveth.

No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that refuge clinging;
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth,
How can I keep from singing?

I lift my eyes; the cloud grows thin;
I see the blue above it;
And day by day this pathway smooths,
Since first I learned to love it.

The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,
A fountain ever springing;
All things are mine since I am his--
How can I keep from singing?
This song's lyrics kept going through my mind today as I drove around the absolutely sopping wet streets of Nashville. I sang them in a Christmas choir a few years ago in an arrangement that wasn't my favorite, yet the words kept striking me, as they did again today. How might life be if I truly believed those words! A good thing to ponder as the Christmas season blasts along. And, I'd forgotten that years ago this song was recorded by Enya, to a different melody. I had no idea that it was a hymn when I heard it.

4 comments:

Its Lainee said...

Join we all all all, join we all all all . . . that was beautiful tho I haven't heard EITHER arrangement!

Nanette R. said...

Thanks for the reminder. I sang this song as well and love the words. I, too, need to believe them more! I especially like the third stanza about seeing the clouds grow thin and the blue sky show through! :-)

Kristi said...

We didn't sing that verse years ago, and it was nice to discover it. Today is a good reminder of the blue sky showing through! But the song doesn't mention gale force winds. :)

kc said...

I loved the Enya version. Bet yours was good too! Some days you cannot keep from singing.