More than (almost) anything, in the second half of my life, I don’t want to become hard-hearted.

In writing this, I acknowledge that I am fully into the second half of my life. As much as I’d like to reach the age of one-hundred-two, chances are I will fall well short of that. In this second half of life, there is a lot I’d like to do, enjoy, grow into, and experience. But with all of those hopes, more than anything, I don’t want to become hard-hearted.

As I have gotten older, I have noticed that hard-heartedness would be the easy progression of things. To become less compassionate, more skeptical, suspicious, angry, hateful, and closed minded. Becoming a curmudgeon often happens, it seems to me, as men grow older.

This coming Sunday we will begin singing a new hymn text. I love it for several reasons, but first is that it calls me away from this hard-heartedness. It speaks of the Spirit’s work of opening hearts and bringing forth kindness, and tenderness. It speaks of God receiving the glory in all that we are, all that we do. It speaks of being present with others in their pain, and in their joy, and welcoming others into community and the presence of God. In my mind, the hymn is a call away from hard-heartedness.

This hymn will be sung each Sunday over the next six weeks, it supports our fall series, “Clothed In Christ,” which focuses on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.

Our choir sang this hymn several weeks ago, and you to listen to a recording of it by clicking here.

Another reason (I must tell you) that I love this hymn text is that it is written by a North Carolinian. Mary Louse Bringle is an avid hymn writer and professor of philosophy and religious studies at Brevard College, in the mountains of North Carolina. You can read more about here by clicking here.

This hymn text is set to a beautiful Scottish/Irish tune, and I pray that we will hear God’s voice whispering to us as we sing together and consider the condition of our hearts.