Sunny Sunday #2 - Come Thou Fount - Introduction

Continuing on the theme of Grace from last week, I am going to start a series based upon the hymn, 'Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing'. I have visited this hymn before on this blog (see here), but again am feeling drawn to it. As a musician, I have many 'favorite' songs, but this hymn ranks at the very top. For me, when paired with the hymn tune, Nettleton, it is a magic convergence that rarely happens in the music world. It is like the music and the text break beyond their bonds and give you a glimpse of heavenly grace.

I have chosen to use the original text of the hymn as basis for these posts. Each week, we'll discuss one verse and attempt to gain further insight into its meaning. The poetry of this hymn is quite good and often the meaning behind the words is lost when we sing or hear it. It must be studied and pondered.

As one day I wish to arrange an instrumental version of this hymn, I have spend quite a bit of time thinking about what it means. So many settings are triumphant and glorious. Certainly appropriate given the subject matter of this hymn. However, I was struck one day that this was not the hymn of praise from an angelic choir. Rather, it is the humble plea from the battle worn soul. A plea for grace, love, comfort and teaching. A plea from someone at the bottom and not already risen to the top.

A healthy person does not need a physician, but rather one who is sick. When we confront our mortal weakness and finally accept that we are not perfect and cannot hope to achieve perfection on our own, that is when we call out. That is when we truly desire divine grace that will heal our hearts and support us each day. Join me on this journey.

Image above (and on front-page mastheads): Sculpture “Christ and the Samaritan Woman at Jacob’s Well” by Ivan Mestrovic, 1957, seen at the University of Notre Dame; photograph by Ruth Councell.