Depending on how long you've been around this blog, you may or may not be familiar with what I call prosification - taking a hymn or poem and translating its meaning into prose. It's meant as a way to help a modern audience understand the sometimes antiquated, poetic imagery of the songs of the faith.
Currently at the top of my To Be Prosified list is the 1880 hymn by Will L. Thompson, "Softly and Tenderly".
When I read the lyrics in preparation for prosification, I realized they didn't need to be modernized or simplified. They are perfectly understandable as is.
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
calling for you and for me;
see, on the portals he's waiting and watching,
watching for you and for me.
Refrain:
Come home, come home;
you who are weary come home;
earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
calling, O sinner, come home!
Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not his mercies,
mercies for you and for me? [Refrain]
Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
passing from you and from me;
shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
coming for you and for me. [Refrain]
O for the wonderful love he has promised,
promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, he has mercy and pardon,
pardon for you and for me.
Refrain:
Come home, come home;
you who are weary come home;
earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
calling, O sinner, come home!
* * * * * * *
Truth is...It's pretty popular nowadays to walk away from faith; saying that you've been wounded by the church or a church leader. We see the hypocrisy of those who declare with their mouths they love Jesus, but whose actions say something else entirely, and we say, "I'm done!"
Consider this: It's not any particular church that offers mercy and grace and reconciliation. It is Jesus himself, and he's not pounding a pulpit or pointing fingers. He is welcoming us home.
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