Thursday, October 3, 2013

Day 3: Blest Be the Tie That Binds

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Many years ago I bumped into a friend I hadn't seen in several years. We had once served together in the preschool program of Bible Study Fellowship and we made such a great team. Our lives didn't really intersect outside of Bible study, but she was a dear friend. When we bumped into each other our faces lit up, our eyes teared, and we gave each other a great hug. I can't speak for her, but my heart felt like it was going to burst. It was so precious to see her again and I was struck at how that moment must be a tiny glimpse of what it will be like to be reunited with fellow believers in heaven. I often reflect on that brief reunion and how moved I was by the eternal comparison.

I am the Queen of Lost Track. We've moved five times in our twenty-year marriage, each time leaving behind amazing Christian friends, and I've lost track of most of them. One friend lived less than a mile away from our house in Minneapolis and we would often take walks together around the nearby lake. Our husbands had gone to high school together, so we regularly went out as a foursome. Even our dogs were best friends. Yes, I've pretty much lost track of her as well, even though she now lives just minutes away from my mother-in-law's house in Denver. She's still good about sending Christmas cards (which I treasure), but I've haven't even done that for three years.

In other words, I'm a lousy friend.

Go ahead and suggest Facebook for helping me abdicate my Queen of Lost Track throne. And then ask my Facebook friends how much time I actually spend on there. Very little.

I don't know why I struggle so much with this, but I do find comfort in this verse:

When we asunder part, it gives us inward pain;
but we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.

In heaven I will be the perfect friend, because I will be conformed to His image. And if my reunion with my Bible study friend is any indication, it will indeed be special because not only will I see all those dear people once again, we will all be with our loving Lord.

From sorrow, toil and pain, and sin, we shall be free
and perfect love and friendship reign through all eternity.

Oh, and when we're in heaven, I'm totally going to be able to sing like the lady in this recording. ; )



Oh, and one more note. This is one of the first hymns I fell in love with. In fact, that friend from Minneapolis? I remember one day I was babysitting for her infant son and I spent the whole time rocking him and singing this hymn (because it was the only one I knew by heart at that point!). It was good practice for all the hymn singing I would one day do with my children.

Blest Be the Tie That Binds
John Fawcett, 1782

Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love
the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.

Before the Father's throne we pour our ardent prayers
our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our cares.

We share our mutual woes, our mutual burdens bear,
and often for each other flows the sympathizing tear.

When we asunder part, it gives us inward pain;
but we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.

This glorious hope revives our courage by the way,
while each in expectation lives, and longs to see the day.

From sorrow, toil and pain, and sin, we shall be free
and perfect love and friendship reign through all eternity.

2 comments:

  1. One of my favorites, too. Makes me tear up whenever I sing it. I, too, can't wait for that glorious day when all the saints will be together worshipping God. : ) oh, and the singing.... : )

    ReplyDelete
  2. One of my favorites, too. Makes me tear up whenever I sing it. I, too, can't wait for that glorious day when all the saints will be together worshipping God. : ) oh, and the singing.... : )

    ReplyDelete