The text for today's hymn cannot be published due to copyright limitations. We apologize for the inconvenience.
You Have Come Down To The Lakeshore by Cesáreo Gabaraín, 1936-1991
Translated by Madeleine Forell Marshall, b. 1946
1. You have come down to the lakeshore
Seeking neither the wise nor the wealthy,
But only asking for me to follow.
Chorus: Sweet Lord, you have looked into my eyes,
Kindly smiling, you've called out my name.
On the sand I've abandoned my small boat;
Now with you, I will seek other seas.
2. You know full well what I have, Lord;
Neither treasure nor weapons for conquest,
Just these my fishnets and will for working.
Chorus: Sweet Lord, you have looked into my eyes,
Kindly smiling, you've called out my name.
On the sand I've abandoned my small boat;
Now with you, I will seek other seas.
3. You need my hands, my exhaustion,
Working love for the rest of the weary,
A love that's willing to go on loving.
Chorus: Sweet Lord, you have looked into my eyes,
Kindly smiling, you've called out my name.
On the sand I've abandoned my small boat;
Now with you, I will seek other seas.
4. You who have fished other waters;
You, the longing of souls that are yearning;
O loving Friend, you have come to call me.
Chorus: Sweet Lord, you have looked into my eyes,
Kindly smiling, you've called out my name.
On the sand I've abandoned my small boat;
Now with you, I will seek other seas.
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I love this hymn with its reminder of this week's story of Jesus calling the fishermen away from their nets to follow after him--so much so that shortly before I retired I received word through the congregational grape vine that there was someone who would run screaming from church if we ever sang it again.
But the words of this hymn seem so beautifully to echo this week's thoughts about trust: "you have come...only asking me to follow;" "you know what I have...my will for working;" "you need my hands, my exhaustion...a love that's willing to go on loving;" and finally, "Sweet Lord, you have looked into my eyes...now with you I will seek other seas." Perhaps like me you long for that kind of trust that would truly let me park the current boat in which I ride on the beach and follow without question. And yet, what does that trust look like, feel like, act like? It is not something we conjure up from within. It is not a lump of something we can implant. Usually it's something we grow into, feeling our way along day by day and trusting that Jesus is using us even as we live in the uncertainty of where he is calling us.
Jesus, open our eyes and ears and hearts and minds so we can know what you want of us. Amen.
Tim Kellgren, '71
Retired Pastor of Elim Lutheran Church, Petaluma, Calif.
But the words of this hymn seem so beautifully to echo this week's thoughts about trust: "you have come...only asking me to follow;" "you know what I have...my will for working;" "you need my hands, my exhaustion...a love that's willing to go on loving;" and finally, "Sweet Lord, you have looked into my eyes...now with you I will seek other seas." Perhaps like me you long for that kind of trust that would truly let me park the current boat in which I ride on the beach and follow without question. And yet, what does that trust look like, feel like, act like? It is not something we conjure up from within. It is not a lump of something we can implant. Usually it's something we grow into, feeling our way along day by day and trusting that Jesus is using us even as we live in the uncertainty of where he is calling us.
Jesus, open our eyes and ears and hearts and minds so we can know what you want of us. Amen.
Tim Kellgren, '71
Retired Pastor of Elim Lutheran Church, Petaluma, Calif.
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