Jimbo's Jots

My brain is a constant soundtrack. At any given time, if you were to ask me what I am thinking about it is probably a song. There’s been a song that has been running through my head for the past couple of days. It’s an old hymn that for some reason has set up residency. As I did some research, I found out this old hymn, not surprisingly, was written out of a tragedy.

Cleland McAfee (1866-1944) was a Presbyterian minister and choir director at the campus church of Park College in Parkville, MO. In 1903, the whole town was deeply affected with the sudden death of two infant girls to diptheria. These two girls were the nieces of Reverend McAfee. As she recounted the story about her father, McAfee’s daughter wrote this in the biography of his life, “My father often told us how he sat long and late thinking of what could be said in word and song on the coming Sunday.” So he wrote this little song:

There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God;
a place where sin cannot molest, near to the heart of God.

O Jesus, blest Redeemer, sent from the heart of God,
hold us who wait before thee near to the heart of God.

McAfee taught the song to his choir at Saturday evening choir practice to be sung at the next Sunday worship. However, they were all so moved by the song and what this family had meant to the town, they went to the house of the two girls, stood outside the house and sang it for the family.

I don’t know why this song has been going through my head. Maybe it’s because there were so many distractions that could have kept my focus away from moments with God. There are those moments where there was a place where sin could take me away and cause harm.

Yet, there were also moments within this last week that have reminded me of being near to God. It’s the celebration of the Redeemer, sent from the heart of God who holds in those moments. The song reminds us that in these moments we are drawn near to the heart of God and we are given rest.

Maybe take a moment to give this song a listen and be reminded that He is near and He invites to be near to His heart.

Be blessed in resting near His heart! Be a blessing to others who are trying to do the same!