How Great Thou Art

My years of sitting in the pew as a child, awarded me much more than learned skills on how to behave in church. Not only did I learn about my Savior, but the hymns we sang have now become etched in my memory. To this day, if I hear the music to an old hymn, I can on most occasions still remember the words.

Several years ago, after an extended time of ministry in the Portland, OR area, my wife Sherry and I decided to move back to Seattle. We stayed at a friend’s vacation home for a couple months while we looked for permanent housing. The little seaport town we were living in, had an old country church with a bell tower. Every hour the bells would chime, and at noon they would play an old hymn, which would echo throughout the city.

One day, as we were driving through town, Sherry asked me if I could hear the chimes playing in the distance. At first I couldn’t, but as we got closer to the church I knew I had to stop and sing along. For the song that was playing was a glorious reminder, not only of my childhood, but of a day that is coming soon when I will hear that joyous shout of acclamation.

“When Christ shall come
With shout of acclamation
And take me home
What joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow
In humble adoration
And then proclaim
My God, How Great Thou Art!”