On a day when a number of Facebook posts from my friends reflect something about the emotions and activities surrounding “Heritage Weekend” at TUFW–a couple of days of gathering set aside for a “last hurrah” on campus before its closing at the end of the month, and a celebration of God’s work and His goodness over the years in that place–snippets from this hymn have been floating around in my brain. When I looked it up to fill in the parts between the floating snippets, I realized it may not be so directly related to the ending of something significant. Yet, when change comes, and uncertainty or sadness or (for some) anger or bitterness at what cannot be any more sweeps over our hearts, that IS a good time–the best time, the needful time–to once again reckon with truth that is the warp and woof of the fabric of our relationship with the One who loves us best and to whom no change is ever, ever, ever a surprise.
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy like the wideness of the sea;
There’s a kindness in His justice which is more than liberty.
There is welcome for the sinner and more graces for the good:
There is mercy with the Savior; There is healing in His blood.
For the love of God is broader than the measure of man’s mind;
And the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind.
If our love were but more simple we should take Him at His word;
And our lives would be all sunshine in the sweetness of our Lord.
–Frederick W. Faber, 1862
Nice reflection and connection, Amy. I suspect that the coming weeks will indeed be bittersweet. There are good times to remember along with the sadness of loss of what is — and people you’ve made the journey with mixed up in it all. I’m looking forward to hearing what God’s going to do in the next chapter, but this one has to be finished first.