This week at McCrite at Briarcliff, where I live, we had a program about hymns presented by Donna and Gary Douglas. Their singing and piano playing were wonderful: his beautiful rich baritone and her piano with the embellishments were inspiring.
The first hymn, Donna said we need to look at through a different lens: "Joy To The World", a hymn that was never meant to be a Christmas carol but about the Second Coming. She asked us to close our eyes and listen to it as a meditation.
"Joyful, joyful we adore Thee
God of glory, Lord of love
And hearts unfold like flowers before Thee
Opening to the sun above"
Then they told some stories about some favorite hymns. It was amazing how many hymns were written after a family tragedy. One story that surprised me was "Near to the Heart of God" written by Cleland McAfee of Parkville, Missouri only a few miles from where I live. Cleland was the son of one of the Park University's founders, John A. McAffee.
His daughter Katharine wrote "One terrible week, just before communion Sunday, the two daughters of my Uncle Howard and Aunt Lucy McAffee died of diphtheria within 24 hours of each other. The college family and town (Parkville) were stricken with grief. My father often told us how he sat long and late thinking of what could be said in word and son on Sunday. So, he wrote "Near To the Heart of God". The choir learned it at Saturday night rehearsal and afterward went to Howard McAffee's house and sang it as they stood under the sky outside the darkened quarantined home. It was sung again on Sunday."
Cleland McAfee went on to pastor several Presbyterian congregations, taught at McCormick Seminary and helped direct the Presbyterian foreign mission program. But, I'll remember him and his family each time I sing this song "There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God". And I'll remember that God's hand is present inspiring us and supporting us even when we are feeling grief.
Jaclyn Morgan
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