“O Joy that seeks me through pain….” Who would write such words? Who would not resonate with this deep heart-longing to be lifted up from sorrow to gladness? It is felt within human nature. Maybe each of us could have written this. But we didn’t. George Matheson did.
I begin our new series, Bio-Storytelling, with a story-sketch of his life. George Matheson (1832 – 1906), the author of the hymn, “O Love that Will Not Let Me Go,” caught my attention about 15 years ago as I read the lyrics to his third verse:
O joy that seeks me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.
From childhood I remember this hymn in our church’s hymn book. I remember sitting next to my mother and hearing her beautiful, clear soprano tones carrying these words. The melody suits the themes so well. Themes? More than one? Yes, this hymn has four verses presenting four beautiful themes:
