This past week, I recorded playing some hymns on the piano for my Mom’s Christmas present. (Yes, a bit late. Ahem… life happens.) Granted, only a mother could love these rough recordings, but she had been asking for them for some time now.

As I was playing through humns, I came across this one that I haven’t heard in awhile:

I liked how that arrangement coupled it with “Peace Be Still.”

As I listened to the lyrics afresh, my desire to be nearer to Him – come what may – strengthened.

“1 Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

2 Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
yet in my dreams I’d be
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

3 There let the way appear, steps unto heaven;
all that thou sendest me, in mercy given;
angels to beckon me
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

4 Then, with my waking thoughts bright with thy praise,
out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;
so by my woes to be
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

5 Or if, on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I fly,
still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!

United Methodist Hymnal, 1989”