In preparing the liturgy for a service I recently led, I chose the classic Abide with Me as one of the hymns. To my surprise, the church secretary emailed back and suggested I leave out the last verse. Why? Because it’s so depressing, what with Covid and all. Funny, all along I had thought it a hymn of comfort and hope.
The offending stanza reads like this: “Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes; Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies; Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee; In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.”
Then again, I shouldn’t have been surprised. I’ve long believed that the unofficial religion of American is positive thinking. Just think good thoughts and everything will work out.
Continue reading “The Lesson from 2020?”