Have you heard God's voice: has your heart been stirred?

No picture today, either.  Just these words from a hymn we sang this morning at Didsbury Methodist Church.  To hear the tune, go to youtube.com.  The haunting melody fits the words perfectly.  As we sang this, I thought to myself, these are big questions, easily answered with our lips perhaps, but not so easy to answer with our lives and actions.  The images stirred into life by the words and tune could just as easily have come from the day of the Wesleys.  Voiceless people, violent crowds, city streets, distressing news -- these are all part and parcel of our world just as they were in the 18th century, and the challenge lies before us no less than it did when our foremothers and forefathers in faith struggled with it.  But if we are called by Christ's name, we don't have the option of remaining silent on the sidelines while the innocent suffer,and we are called to serve with words of grace and love and actions that point to Christ.  So, I invite you to listen to and read this hymn and ask yourself as an individual and as a community of faith:  Will we walk the path that will cost us much and embrace the world's pain and sorrow?  Will we trust the One who entrusts to us the disciples of tomorrow?


1         Have you heard God’s voice; has your heart been stirred?
           Are you still prepared to follow?
           Have you made a choice to remain and serve,
           though the way be rough and narrow?

Refrain (except the last time)
                Will you walk the path that will cost you much
                and embrace the pain and sorrow?
                Will you trust in One who entrusts to you
                the disciples of tomorrow?

2         Will you use your voice; will you not sit down
           when the multitudes are silent?
           Will you make a choice to stand your ground
           when the crowds are turning violent?

3         In your city streets will you be God’s heart?
           Will you listen to the voiceless?
           Will you stop and eat, and when friendships start,
           will you share your faith with the faithless?

4         Will you watch the news with the eyes of faith
           and believe it could be different?
           Will you share your views using words of grace?
           Will you leave a thoughtful imprint?

                We will walk the path that will cost us much
                and embrace the pain and sorrow.
                We will trust in One who entrusts to us
                the disciples of tomorrow.

Jacqueline G. Jones
Reproduced from Singing the Faith Electronic Words Edition, number 662
Words and Music: © 2008 Jacqueline G. Jones