Take My Life and Let it Be

“Take my life and let it be…”

My emotion swelled as I sang. I love new songs, but the old hymns sing differently. They have long-standing legs underneath them. They have weathered storms and changes over time yet still sing true. No one will ever accuse me of being a traditionalist, but I need those old songs now more than ever.

Fifteen years ago, I spent the summer as a chaplain in an extended care facility. Many afternoons I helped lead hymn sings in the different areas of the facility. We sang the same handful of hymns day after day. “Just As I Am” and “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” were favorites. We always closed with “Amazing Grace.” There were songbooks, but no one needed them. The residents held the books like a security blanket, but they knew every word and melody (and sometimes harmony) by heart.

My favorite place to lead hymn sings was in the memory support unit with our residents who had dementia. They often struggled to recognize where they were or who they were with, but they knew every word and melody. They belted them out like an old church choir when we sang. As the words formed on their lips, I watched the faith of their youth come alive again. These songs were an anchor in the unpredictable, sometimes violent, current of dementia. It was beautiful and tragic all at once. It was beautiful to see the light of who they once were in their eyes. It was tragic to watch it fade again as the final chord of Amazing Grace went silent.

Whenever I lead music, I include at least one old, familiar hymn. Life and faith are often so disorienting. I need the anchor that is those songs. Maybe that makes me sound old. But I imagine other people need them too. 

For paid subscribers to this site, I have included the video of me leading our church in “Take My Life” from this past Sunday. Enjoy. I hope you sing along at the top of your lungs.