New Favorite Hymn

I had a wonderful time at a retreat center that my spiritual director introduced me to. It is called Spring Meadows and is in Harmony, PA, just north of Pittsburgh. There are two bedrooms in a long house with wall-sized windows facing the woods. At the bottom of the woods is a decent sized pond and row boat, paths to walk, and a brook running through the property. In addition to the delicious homemade food made by Rosa Lee and eaten family-style with her husband Grant, she also does spiritual direction. A one-stop, retreat/B&B/spiritual/nature center. A wonderful time with God and spiritual friends. I discovered some hymn words that have come to mean a lot recently. It is sung to the tune of Findlandia, which is the "We rest on Thee" or "Cedar Grace" tune. I share it here for you:

Be Still, My Soul
(to the tune of Finlandia)

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Thro thorny ways leads to a joyful end.


Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be for ever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Amen.