I grew up with great hymns sung by our congregation and led by my sweet daddy behind the pulpit. My sister and I used to giggle because we would always get through the first two verses and he would say, "and the last," so the congregation would skip to the final verse. I don't know that we ever sang all four (or more) verses of a hymn on Sunday morning. Maybe daddy was in a hurry to get home for my mom's yummy Sunday dinner.
I don't even know quite how I came across this hymn today. I can only say that I think the Holy Spirit guided me to it. I've never heard of John Greenleaf Whittier before, but discovered a bit more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Greenleaf_Whittier.
The words to this hymn were stunning. I wish I could write like this. Thank you, Lord, for the words of saints who have gone before.
I bow my forehead to the dust,
I veil mine eyes for shame,
And urge, in trembling self distrust,
A prayer without a claim.
No offering of mine own I have,
Nor works my faith to prove;
I can but give the gifts He gave,
And plead His love for love.
I dimly guess, from blessings known,
Of greater out of sight;
And, with the chastened psalmist, own
His judgments too are right.
And if my heart and flesh are weak
To bear an untried pain,
The bruiséd reed He will not break,
But strengthen and sustain.
I know not what the future hath
Of marvel or surprise,
Assured alone that life and death
His mercy underlies.
And so beside the silent sea
I wait the muffled oar;
No harm from Him can come to me
On ocean or on shore.
I know not where His islands lift
Their fronded palms in air;
I only know I cannot drift
Beyond His love and care;
And Thou, O Lord, by Whom are seen
Thy creatures as they be,
Forgive me if too close I lean
My human heart on Thee.
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