As Threshold Choir singers, we travel to the bedsides of the dying, as compassionate companions who ease the remaining months or days with reassuring, peaceful song.
We also sing for those who are grieving, as choirs are doing again in recent days. Oh, how we would prefer not to be singing, again, after yet another murder of innocents. It feels like small consolation that “[the Lord] gathers the lambs in his arms, and carries them in his bosom.” (Is. 40:11).
Even so, we sing these words from Arms of Grace by Peggy Nes ©2011:
Hold these families in your heart; watch over all their loved ones/
Help them as they make their way, and hold them in the arms of grace.
I opened a bible just now and my eyes fell upon these words from Psalm 69:2-4:
I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me.
I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched. …
More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause…
May we rise from deep waters.
May we lift up our voices with strength.
May our voices never cease crying out for justice and peace, even when—especially when—it feels we are crying in the wilderness.
May our cries be heard and a flood of everlasting peace sweep over the land.
Amen.
