21 May 2024 Anno Domini, the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide “In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” John 14:2-6
This a beautiful hymn of parting for those we love in Christ. This devotion is devoted to our good friend and brother, Bishop Hap Arnold who was called home unexpectedly last Thursday to be with the Lord.
The hymn lyrics are the work of William Arms Fisher in 1922. The tune is taken from the 2nd movement of Antonin Dvorak’s New World Symphony. Dvorak had encouraged American composers to make widefr use of the ‘Negro Spirituals’ of the day. In response, Fisher wrote this hymn that so me mistake for a negro spiritual since the rhythm of the hymn closely matches that of other such spirituals.
Click here to listen and watch beautiful hymn video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BunbeRED5Y
GOING HOME
Goin’ home. Goin’ home. I’m a-goin’ home.
Quiet-like some still day, I’m just goin’ home.
It’s not far, just close by, through an open door.
Work all done, cares laid by, goin’ to roam no more;
Mother’s there ‘xpecting me, father’s waiting, too,
Lots of folks gathered there, all the friends I knew.
Morning star lights the way, restless dream all done.
Shadows gone, break of day, real life just begun.
There’s no break, there’s no end, just a-living on;
Wide awake, with a smile, going on and on.
Going home. Going home, I’m just going home.
It’s not far, just close by, through an open door.
Goin’ home. Goin’ home. I’m a-goin’ home. Quiet-like some still day, I’m just goin’ home. It’s not far, just close by, through an open door. Work all done, cares laid by, goin’ to roam no more; Mother’s there ‘xpecting me, father’s waiting, too, Lots of folks gathered there, all the friends I knew. Some may consider this to be a sad description of the departure of loved ones from our midst, but I hold the very opposite view. The hymn describes the quietness of the death of the physical body. Though pain may precede, death itself comes on the silent wings of the angel of death. The distance from the living to the dead is only a thin veil though we cannot see though it to the other side. It is, in reality an open door through which all born of woman must pass. At the point of death, we lay aside the burdens =that have plagued us all the live long day and surrender our cares to Him who is our Maker and Redeemer. I do not know how we will remember our days on earth, but I know that we will be over joyed to see all the friends we knew in Christ on the far shores of Jordan Banks. Our Godly parents will be waiting for that joyful reunion. No sorrows in those realizations.
Morning star lights the way, restless dream all done. Shadows gone, break of day, real life just begun. There’s no break, there’s no end, just a-living on; Wide awake, with a smile, going on and on. Going home. Going home, I’m just going home. It’s not far, just close by, through an open door. That Bright and Morning Star, which is Christ, is our Search Light of the seas of this world; but, then becomes that brilliant Sun of Righteousness at the moment of our change from life to the sleep of death. The transition is as the twinkling of an eye it is so abrupt. There is no first day of Eternity since Eternity is eternal day – no shadows to lengthen there. At the very moment of death, the body returns to the dust of the earth and the spirit returns to God who gave it – without delay. Our dear ones who precede us in death are very nearby. Life is a vapor and like unto the flowers of the desert whose petals wither at the blast of the hot winds of trial and pilgrimage. So our lives are merely a tiny spot on the scale of eternity to which we go.
Our friend, Bishop Hap Arnold, is just beyond the veil of our knowing, but he is in far better stead than any of us who remain behind. We mourn his separation from us from our own selfish desires to keep him near; but he has no regrets in the loving hands in which he is cradled this very day.
