Advent Day 6 – Friday, December 1
“Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all Faith, whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe: be there at our labors, and give us, we pray, your strength in our hearts Lord, at the noon of the day.”
“Lord of All Hopefulness,” ELW, No. 765
Every time I go out to my woodshop , I can’t help but think of the words to this beautiful hymn of faith. You see, I love to collect woodworking planes, especially the old ones. Some of the planes I have are over 250 years old. Those who first used them are long since gone, and now they live on in my shop, where I will use them and take care of them for a time. Each time I pick one of them up and use them to create something new out of wood, I think of the people that used them before me, and I feel a bond between them and me.
The same feeling is true every time I sing the old hymns of faith. Those who wrote and sang many of them are long since gone now, but every time I sing them again, I feel that same tie that binds us all together, in “faith.” For a “time” these hymns are mine to sing and share together with you.
During this season of Advent, let us remember those who have gone on before us, and let us remember also that we are part of the “never-ending” story of God’s love and grace. “For unto us a child is born, a Son is given.” Lord of all hopefulness, be there for us…always! Amen.
Pr. Timothy Lemme