Sunday, July 19, 2009

All is Well

The chorister asked us to stand and sing . . . in honor of the pioneers.

I stood and thought of them. . . Many stories of individuals crossed my minds as I sang. I was urging them, comforting them, commiserating with them. How is it I felt they could hear me, though one hundred years in the future?

Come Come ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear,
But with joy, wend your way.
Though hard to you, this journey may appear,
Grace shall be as your day . . .

Somewhere, my vision changed. Those I was singing to were singing back to me . . . I heard them.

And should we mourn or think our lot is hard?
Tis not so, all is right.
Why should You think to earn a great reward
If you now shun the fight.
Gird up your Loins, fresh courage take,
Your God will never you forsake. . .
And soon You'll have this tale to tell,
All is Well, All is well.

My exhaustion of the past month, my discouragement over my little trials, my self pity for my circumstances washed away with my tears as I struggled through the remainder of the song.

From their perspective they spoke with power to my heart. Some died on the plains or in the windy high dessert of Wyoming. Others continued on without children, parents, or spouses. They continued the fight they were called to climb. Their comforting words, All is well, warmed me like a crazy quilt. I knew that I must continue the fight as well. Continue to get up in the morning and make each day, each moment glorify my God and King. It is said we cannot remember the stories of the Pioneers too often. Today, I agree.

To see how we prepared for Pioneer Day, click here.

2 comments:

  1. I felt the same way when I was singing that song yestereday. It spoke to my soul and I had a transcendent experience like you did. The beauty of that hymn and its powerful message leaves me feeling overwhelmed with gratitude for all pioneers--living and dead--who forge on in their journeys.

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  2. This year I too have felt a little more of a connection with those friends cause of trek and I spoke about them yesterday in Sac. meeting.

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