While in church yesterday, I wrote this about the Choir’s Anthem, ” I Heard Him Once”.

Dr. David Kates, our church’s Director of Music and Fine Arts, shared the poetry for this hymn with me. It was written by John Thornburg who is a fourth generation United Methodist pastor, song enlivener, poet and professional encourager in the Dallas area.

I heard him once, the risen Christ,
and as he did so long ago,
to those who walked beside the sea,
he turned and said, “Come follow me. Come follow me.”

“But who am I?” I whispered back,
and as he did so long ago,
to those who sat upon a hill,
he turned and said, “You are the light. You are the light!”

I froze, unable to respond,
and as he did so long ago,
to one who sat beside a pool, he turned and said,
“Is healing what you want?”

And then,confronted by the One
who knew my name and sensed my aimlessness,
I drew a fitful breath, and then I said,
“Yes, Lord, make me whole, and I will come and follow you.”