A family member attended a funeral recently at which a hymn was sung that none of us had ever come across before. It has vanished from use and seems not to be in any of the resources I have access to, both printed hymn books or online. Thinking about old hymns reminded me of one that was popular in my home chapel when I was growing up, and which is now out of favour.
Ye fair green hills of Galilee was written by Dr Eustace Conder. I knew it from Congregational Praise (106) but it was also in The Methodist Hymn and Tune Book (81) pictured. I am not sure if this is correct and it certainly does not tie up with the original MHB that I have. Interestingly, the Methodist book calls the tune St Finbar whereas I know the same tune as St Catherine.
Re-reading the words now I can see why the imagery has lost appeal and yet the conversation with ‘the hills of Galilee’ is not so far removed from Jesus’s line about ‘the very stones crying out’. The linked concepts of duty and love are likely to be referred to a lot in the next few weeks as we contemplate Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Many people have significant love and respect for a woman whose life has been given over to duty.
Duty is defined as something you have to do because it is part of your job or something that you feel is the right thing to do. Duty cannot be sustained for prolonged periods unless it is underpinned by other strengths or motivations too. Faith underpins The Queen’s life and without it, it is difficult to see how she could possibly have continued in her role for as long as she has done.
It does us all good to reflect on what bolsters our lives and I wonder how many of us are motivated by a sense of duty, in that we feel things are right to do. Going through the motions without conviction is totally exhausting…one could be forgiven for asking if that is why, sometimes there are cries for relief from fatigue in our Churches?
A Prayer
Loving God, your great love for me inspires me and it fuels my faith, keeping me strong. I praise and thank you, and pray that I may stay lively in my faith. May all my duty be done with delight and never as a chore. Help me to avoid fatigue as I continually uncover new reasons to rejoice and, in my rejoicing, may my faith grow stronger with every day. For Jesus limitless love’s sake, Amen.