Like the son who takes his share,
and wanders from his place,
so we your wandering children here
would yearn to sing of grace.
Like the son with heart of stone
who dwells in grievance deep,
so we your wounded, angry ones
would learn to sing of peace.
Like the one whose open arms
all barriers would remove,
so we in havens safe from harm
would turn to sing of love.
Teach us, Music, Word and Breath,
to sing through ages long
and never once, in spite of death,
to be without a song.
PAUL HOOKER is a teaching elder member of New Covenant Presbytery and associate dean for ministerial formation and advanced studies at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
