Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me

Life is full of memories.

We remember tastes, smells, touch, sounds and most of all, feelings. An author once told us in writing class, "People often don't get the facts straight, so you need to check them. What they remember is how the felt at the time."

So singing "Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me" in church this morning touched some hidden layer of memories. I suppose if you have ever heard this hymn what you remember is both the words and the music. We suppose they came into existence together. That of course, is not the case. Edward Hopper first wrote the words as a poem in The Sailor's Magazine. He wrote three additional worthy stanzas often not sung in our day. John E.Gould wrote the tune later in that same year. Some sing the same words to a different tune.

The memory that touches me is Hopper's words and Gould's tune. I've heard them and sung them regularly since childhood. The God of this hymn doesn't turn us into robots. He guides us along rocky coast lines and into safe harbors. We still steer the ship. Life is full of plenty of storms to be navigated and rocks encountered. But the hymn reminds us of God's overarching grace. As I hear and sing the hymn I feel touched by that same grace.
I'm hoping this blessing is one you share.