On Sundays, Evening Prayer takes its inspiration from a component of the day’s mass. Tonight, remembering Bartimaeus, the blind man in at this time’s gospel, we’ll pray with Marty Haugen’s track, We Stroll By Religion (and never by sight)…
We stroll by religion, and never by sight
and so I pray…
Grant me the religion I would like, Lord,
to see what solely religion can see…
Grant me the religion I would like
to face what I do not need to see…
Grant me the religion I would like
to see the peace I’ve not but discovered…
Grant me the religion I would like
to see the place love is looking me…
Grant me the religion I would like
to see what others see with love…
Grant me the religion I would like
to see what’s proper when I’m fallacious…
Grant me the religion I would like
to see your hand in every little thing…
Grant me the religion I would like
to see the trail you’ve got laid for me…
Grant me the religion I would like
to see what others miss out on…
Grant me the religion I would like,
to see your Spirit shifting…
Grant me the religion I would like
to see what I’ve refused to see…
Grant me the religion I would like
to see the way you watch over me…
Grant me the religion I would like
to see by what deceives me…
Grant me the religion I would like
to see you in my enemy…
Grant me the religion I would like
to see the methods I miss out on…
Grant me the religion I would like
to see what’s hidden in plain sight…
Grant me the religion I would like
to see how grace empowers me…
Grant me the religion I would like
to see the nice you discover in me…
Grant me the religion I would like
to see with hope when I’ve none…
Grant me the religion I would like
to see the place knowledge beckons me…
Grant me the religion I would like
to see you in my neighbor…
Grant me the religion I would like
to see you strolling by my facet…
Grant me the religion I would like
to see what I most must see…
Grant me the religion I would like
to see past my selfishness…
Grant me the religion I would like
to see the world as you do, Lord,
to see with eyes of religion…
Defend me, Lord, whereas I am awake
and watch over me whereas I sleep
that awake, I would maintain watch with you
and asleep, relaxation in your peace…
Amen.
Though most of us will know this hymn by Marty Haugen’s melody, the lyrics had been written in 1844 by the Brittish composer, Henry Alford.
We stroll by religion and never by sight
No gracious phrases we hear
Of him who spoke as none e’er spoke
But we consider him close to
We might not contact his fingers and facet
Or comply with the place he trod
But in his promise we rejoice
And cry “My Lord and God”
Assist then, oh Lord, our unbelief
And will our religion abound
To name on you when you find yourself close to
And search the place you’re discovered
That when our life of religion is finished
In realms of clearer mild
We might behold you as you’re
In full and infinite sight
We stroll by religion and never by sight
No gracious phrases we hear
Of him who spoke as none e’er spoke
But we consider him close to
