This was the closing song during Good Friday worship at Glenwood Lutheran Church, Decorah, Iowa on April 19, 2019. The tune worked on me for several weeks before the text took shape, and it was a few days later that the Spirit led me to What Wondrous Love Is This (Text: North American folk hymn, 19th cent., alt. and Music: W. Walker, Southern Harmony, 1835). The result is In the Wake of Sorrow. Thanks to Doug for singing with me. If you’d like to listen, you can find the recording here: https://soundcloud.com/stacey-nalean-carlson.
In the wake of sorrow, storied silence stretches, begging for the answers that will bring a steady peace. There’s no map to follow in this deafening desert. There’s just weary wandering, vultures circling overhead.
Still, the sun keeps rising, and the moon keeps dancing, and the world keeps spinning light from wool of darkest night.
From the silence, singing springs forth from the suffering, through the tears, a tune of trust, a melody of joy. In the desert, swelling wave of deep contentment, tide of love and longing–peace this pain cannot destroy.
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
Yes, the sun keeps rising, and the moon keeps dancing, and the Word keeps spinning light from wool of darkest night. Darkest night.
You, the word of freedom; You, the life abundant; You, the song surprising in the midst of deepest grief; You, the truth compelling trust beyond all fearing; You, the living water gushing up to endless life.
You, the broken body; You, the wine of blessing; You, the Spirit sighing; You, beloved dying; You to hell descending–there’s no limit to your mercy. You to new life rising, in the wake of sorrow rising. Rising!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul! What wondrous love is this, O my soul! To God and to the Lamb, who is the great I Am, while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing, while millions join the theme, I will sing.
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on; and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on. And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing God’s love for me, and through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on; and through eternity I’ll sing on.
I’ll sing on.
In the wake of sorrow, I’ll sing.