"Closeness" is a key aspect in any relationship. Take a moment to think of your closest acquaintance, your dearest friend, your most intimate confidant. You might think of your spouse or another family member. You might think of someone else. What creates the sense of closeness? Physical proximity is usually a good starting point, but simply being nearby cannot create closeness. How "close" do you feel to the next person in a checkout line at the store? Do you even know their name? Do you ask?
Shared experiences are important, too, but they do not necessarily create closeness, either. There were over 800 people who graduated with me from high school. For years we shared classes, assemblies, lunch in the cafeteria, state championship games, band concerts, talent shows, and more. Even with all of those shared experiences, though, I did not know most of their names and interests when we graduated. Several decades later I still don't.
Closeness indeed consists of more than mere proximity and common experiences. It is more than knowledge and awareness. Closeness occurs when a connection happens at a deeper, more personal, more intimate level; it involves being close to someone emotionally and spiritually.
Fanny Crosby is by far the most prolific hymn writer of the Christian era. As was true of so many of her hymns and poems, this week's featured hymn came to her very quickly as an inspiration. Silas Vail played one of his newly composed tunes for her. As she listened, she suddenly exclaimed, "That chorus says, 'Close to Thee!'" Immediately she set to writing the words, and that evening the hymn was complete. This sudden and beautiful expression of closeness to Jesus was born from her own personal relationship with the Lord. Enjoy the nearness that she shares as you read her words:
| 1. Thou my everlasting portion, more than friend or life to me, all along my pilgrim journey, Savior, let me walk with thee. |
Refrain:
Close to thee, close to thee, close to thee, close to thee, all along my pilgrim journey, Savior, let me walk with thee. |
| 2. Not for ease or worldly pleasure, nor for fame my prayer shall be; gladly will I toil and suffer, only let me walk with thee. |
Refrain:
Close to thee, close to thee, close to thee, close to thee, gladly will I toil and suffer, only let me walk with thee. |
| 3. Lead me through the vale of shadows, bear me o'er life's fitful sea; then the gate of life eternal may I enter, Lord, with thee. |
Refrain:
Close to thee, close to thee, close to thee, close to thee, then the gate of life eternal may I enter, Lord, with thee. |
May the story of your life today be like Fanny Crosby's, a story of walking close to Jesus, too.
God bless you--
Lection at HymnSite.com
God bless you!
| Passages suggested are from The Revised Common Lectionary: Consultation on Common Texts (Abingdon Press, 1992) copyright © by the Consultation on Common Texts (CCT), P.O. Box 340003, Room 381, Nashville TN 37203-0003. Reprinted with permission of CCT. |