Brandon Clements

I’ve been falling in love with hymns lately.  I loved them when I was younger, but sometime during high school I began to think them cumbersome and stagnant.  Then, the other day I was at work and this nice old lady sat down and started playing a few hymns on the piano.  It was so alluring that I felt as though someone had me fish-hooked in the mouth and was pulling me toward the music.  Suddenly they all came back to me, refreshing as an August breeze.  So I came home and bought an album of hymns on Itunes that night, and I’ve been listening to them ever since.  Their richness and beauty amaze me.

I’m not real sure what is happening to me.  I think I’m going back in time maybe?  Hymns, creeds, liturgy, responsive readings.  I am starting to have a deeper appreciation for all of these.  Myself 5 years ago would be ashamed of myself today…

I do feel much better, however, because right in the middle of my hymn binge my friend Travis played “How Wonderful, How Marvelous” at our Gathering for Midtown.  That might be one of my favorite hymns of all time.  There is just something special about the line, “I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, and wonder how He could love me, a sinner condemned unclean.”  I get chill bumps every time I hear it.

And just in case you thought it was coincidence, this past week Travis and the band played “Nothing But the Blood.”  Another favorite.  And on top of that, rumor has it that another oldie goldie might be coming out this week.  I sure hope so.

So Travis…this is the start of my official petition for you to keep playing hymns as much as your heart desires.  And do all of them like you have been–not just the ones that the Passion guys have already redone.  All of them are just so good.  And if you want to bring an organ one week, that would be okay too…

And don’t forget what you promised me a few weeks back…it goes something like this:  “I’ll fly away oh glory, I’ll fly away!”