The power of music

How many of you love worship music? Do you prefer traditional hymns or more contemporary worship music? What is your favorite hymn or contemporary worship song to sing in worship? If you could listen to one song every morning to start your day, what is its name and why do you pick it?

Now, I know this seems like a lot for a pastor to ask the congregation. I mean, I fully understand if you’re reading this right now it seems like a lot to go through. There is a good reason I am asking all this. No, it’s not because there’s a worship service I’m trying to plan. I’m truly just wanting to get to know all of you more. 

I have a few favorite hymns l love and have a deep memory with them. I even have some new contemporary worship songs that are the same way. I would love to share with you the story behind one of my favorite hymns.

One day in March 1912, Austin Miles, the writer of many hymns we sing today, and my favorite hymn was developing film for his hobby of photography. Waiting for the process to complete, he picked up his Bible. It was open to John, Chapter 20. He found in that chapter the story of Mary’s coming to the garden to visit the tomb of Jesus. As she looked into the tomb, her heart sank because Jesus’s body wasn’t there. Jesus, standing nearby, spoke to her, and she recognized Him. Scripture says her heart leaped for joy!

Austin Miles imagined that he was there with Jesus and Mary in the garden on that glorious occasion, witnessing the wonderful event. When his thoughts returned to what was happening in the darkroom, he was holding his Bible tightly. His muscles, according to his own recollection, were tense and vibrating. Reverently he thought, “this is not an experience limited to a happening almost 2,000 years ago. It is the daily companionship with the Lord that makes up the Christian’s life.”
In the inspiration of those moments, he wrote a poem. He later said the words and phrases came quickly. That same evening, he composed a musical setting, and in doing so, gave to the world a song that has now become extremely well-known, “In the Garden.”

I want shared with you the story of why this is one of my favorite hymns. I have even done a sermon over it many years ago. I’ll give you the short version. As a child growing up in the 1980’s and 90’s I remember my grandmother Durant singing it on Sunday mornings as she drank her coffee and played solitaire sitting in the kitchen. Music is a powerful thing. It can and does, change lives. It brings joy in sorrow, comfort and peace in the chaos of this world, and gives us hope for a new day.

During his later years, Miles often remarked that he would make it through another year if he could get through the month of March. He confessed that he did not like the winds, which March often brings. Oddly enough, he passed away on March 10, 1946, in Pitman, New Jersey.