ORSBORNAGAIN (13)
A devotional series by Major Rob Birks
ORSBORNAGAIN is meant to introduce the poetry of the first Poet General, Albert Orsborn (1886-1967) to a new audience and to reintroduce his works to dyed-in-the-(tropical)-wool Salvationists.
These are not new songs.
However, the lyrics are jam-packed with new life, which may be missed during corporate worship. Re-examined through scripture and experience, Rob Birks intends through an examination of these scared songs to renew the spiritual fervor of believers, and point seekers to their Savior.
In the secret of thy presence,
Where the pure in heart may dwell,
Are the springs of sacred service
And a power that none can tell.
There my love must bring its offering,
There my heart must yield its praise,
And the Lord will come, revealing
All the secrets of his ways.
In the secret of thy presence,
In the hiding of thy power,
Let me love thee, let me serve thee,
Every consecrated hour.
More than all my lips may utter,
More than all I do or bring,
Is the depth of my devotion
To my Saviour, Lord and King.
Nothing less will keep me tender;
Nothing less will keep me true;
Nothing less will keep the fragrance
And the bloom on all I do!
Blessed Lord, to see thee truly,
Then to tell as I have seen,
This shall rule my life supremely,
This shall be the sacred gleam.
Sealed again is all the sealing,
Pledged again my willing heart,
First to know thee, then to serve thee,
Then to see thee as thou art.
Albert Orsborn
766 Our Response to God – Holiness, Means of Grace, Prayer
When I was growing up, people used to ask the question: Where were you when Kennedy was assassinated? I guess people still ask that question, but increasingly another question is taking its place: Where were you on 9/11? Since I was born in 1967, I can’t answer the first question. But I know exactly where I was when I first heard about the horrific tragedies of September 11, 2001.
Why are these questions asked? Why do we know the answers? I think it has something to do with the fact that we associate monumental and/or meaningful events with places. No doubt the place where you first met Jesus holds a sacred spot in your memory. Don’t you know where your first kiss took place? Where were you on your wedding day, or wedding day of your child? I’m sure you remember where you were when you heard that Sanjaya Malakar was voted off the sixth season of “American Idol.” No? Well, that’s because there’s a very good chance that particular event did not have much of an impact on you or the world around you.
As I write this, I’m at Camp Redwood Glen, one of the sacred spots in my life. I didn’t meet Jesus here, but this is where he has met me over and over again. I didn’t meet Stacy here either, but this is where we fell in love and planned our lives (well, at the Denny’s that used to be nearby). We were even married here in 1989. This is where I served on staff for several summers in the 80s, and met many of my good friends. This is where I made and renewed several important spiritual commitments. (Broke a few here too, but found grace in this place as well.) This is the place where, in 1990, Stacy and I and our fellow Followers received blessings and bibles from our division, before leaving from here to be trained as officers in The Salvation Army. I’m thankful that his camp has also played an important role in two of our appointments so far, including the current one. I’m here today for the opening day of music and worship arts camp.
Places where important things happen are important to us. Where we find ourselves when we, ourselves, are found – those places are especially important. This place, to me and to my life, is of the utmost importance. However, while I consider this to be holy ground, it’s crucial to keep in mind that Jesus is not confined by the Camp Redwood Glen property lines. Yes, this place is a sacred spot to me. But if I wait for retreats, camps, councils or vacation days here to enjoy his presence, I miss out on all he has for me elsewhere.
The good news of the presence and power of Jesus is presented clearly in this great gift from Albert Orsborn. We don’t have to go looking for the presence of Jesus somewhere we’re not. We don’t have to wait for a weekend on a calendar. Jesus is a call away. In fact, according to Bono, God’s phone number is Jeremiah 33:3: “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Orsborn echoes this truth beautifully and poetically in the last two lines of the first verse of this song: “And the Lord will come, revealing / All the secrets of his ways.”
I love this song. It’s definitely one of my favorite songs ever written. I also love that we usually sing it to the same tune we use for “All My Work is for the Master.” The titles of the two songs can be misleading. It’s not that one song describes work and the other describes worship. In fact, both songs steer clear of separating duty and devotion. However, it is important (i.e. imperative) for a movement that puts so much emphasis on … well … movement, to remember that it is only in the secret of God’s presence that the “springs of sacred service” are found. Much more important than what we say, do or sing is the depth of our devotion to our Jesus, our King. Nothing less will keep us tender and true. Nothing else will keep the fragrance on all the doing we do.
There is nothing wrong and a lot right about remembering where we were when important things happened to us or around us. My prayer for myself and for you, however, is that we would experience the presence and power of the resurrected Jesus “every consecrated hour.”