Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary God Pause - Moved by the Promise for Sunday, 27 April 2014 - "Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me" ELW1. Jesus, Savior, pilot me
over life's tempestuous sea;
unknown waves before me roll,
hiding rock and treach'rous shoal;
chart and compass come from thee.
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.
2. As a mother stills her child,
thou canst hush the ocean wild;
boist'rous waves obey thy will
when thou say'st to them: "Be still."
Wondrous sov'reign of the sea,
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.
3. When at last I near the shore,
and the fearful breakers roar
twixt me and the peaceful rest,
then, while leaning on thy breast,
may I hear thee say to me:
"Fear not, I will pilot thee."
My home congregation of 60 years ago was noted even then for always using the latest in modern technology to proclaim the gospel. Back then it was Bible stories on flannel graph and many occasions where a slide or filmstrip projector was used. The mid-week Lenten services always closed with the words of a hymn projected onto a large screen. The lights would dim and the words of a hymn would appear against the backdrop of a single cross.
I still remember vividly the night we sang the hymn, "Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me." As a young boy who was experiencing the many uncertainties of life, I would often wonder if there was a God who could pilot me. And then I would hear the words of hope in this hymn. They were indeed words of a God who spoke to me, and told me of a God "who stills the sea as a mother calms her child and of a God who commands the boisterous waves to be still."
O God, I hear your words that breathe calm in the midst of the waves around me. In the quiet of a place of worship, help me to hear again your strong message of hope. Amen.
Wayne Radke
Zumbrota, Minn.
Master of Divinity , 1960
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