why should i feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
when Jesus is my portion? my constant friend is he:
his eye is on the sparrow, and i know he watches me
“let not your heart be troubled,” his tender word i hear,
and resting on his goodness, i lose my doubts and fears;
though by the path he leadeth, but one step i may see;
his eye is on the sparrow, and i know he watches me
whenever i am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
when songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
i draw the closer to him, from care he sets me free;
his eye is on the sparrow, and i know he watches me
i've spent the last 24 hours or so singing and meditating on this classic song, which was given to me during a prayer time years ago when i was anxious about something (hard to imagine, i know). whatever i was worried about has long since been forgotten, but the song has remained as one of my personal favourites. it doesn't hurt that the first time i ever heard the hymn — a fixture in african-american worship services — it was done in a contemporary r&b style by deniece williams. you can find a nice version of it (by lauryn hill) here.
it's not God's eye on me personally (though i'm certainly glad for that!), but on international students (some of whom are in their spiritual infancy or still gestating), on our volunteers and other ministry partners, and on all of quebec that is comforting to me today. i cannot see very far down the road, but i know he is watching over the people and ministry that i love.
so while i can't help feeling a bit of responsibility (having been 'tamed' by people here)…
i sing because i’m happy,
i sing because i’m free,
for his eye is on the sparrow,
and i know he watches me
weeping may endure for a night
but joy cometh in the morning
psalm 30:5
but joy cometh in the morning
psalm 30:5
2 comments:
It's hard to leave, I know, but it's good to see how attached your heart has become to your students. God bless you as you close out your year--and your Montreal adventure!
thanks for your note, bora, and for your blessing.
i think we've become attached to everyone here — students, ministry volunteers, church folk, our not-yet-believing friends. but as you said, i guess that's a good thing. it'd be a real bummer if we didn't miss anyone when we left.
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