Hymnsing

Last night we had a Hymnsing on the Tak green. It was Daughter # 4’s idea. At Takayama we’ve traditionally had Sunday evening Vespers at 5 PM on a hill overlooking the ocean (by Cabin # 33 in my time.)

5 pm on a Sunday evening as we watch the sun set over the ocean has always seemed  like the perfect time and place to worship God, really. I used know many people who shared this opinion but modern missionaries have other priorities I guess and  last night there were just 7 of us on the green (because no one mowed the grass at # 33.)

The Tak Green

We read 5 beautiful Psalms (33, 121, 111, 130 and 139) in between some a most satisfying selection of meaty hymns – most of them quite familiar.

But we did sing one lovely hymn I’d never heard before:

God, who touchest earth with beauty,
Make me lovely too;
With Thy Spirit recreate me,
Make my heart anew.

Like Thy springs and running waters,
Make me crystal pure;
Like Thy rocks of towering grandeur,
Make me strong and sure.

Like Thy shining waves in sunlight,
Make me glad and free;
Like the straightness of the pine trees,
Let me upright be.

Like the arching of the heavens,
Lift my thoughts above;
Turn my dreams to noble action,
Ministries of love.

God, who touchest earth with beauty,
Make me lovely too;
Keep me ever, by Thy Spirit,
Pure and strong and true.

- Mary S. Edgar

I love that third verse:  “Like Thy shining waves in sunlight, Make me glad and free; Like the straightness of the pine trees, Let me upright be.”

Shining waves and pine trees are so Tak appropriate. And what better prayer for ourselves and our children than “Let me upright be!”