Yahweh, I Know You are Near

The other day I found myself lost in my thoughts and prayed for peace and stillness.  As I gazed out at a vast view and finally quieted my mind – this hymn, that I haven’t heard in many, many years, suddenly popped into my head and I sang the chorus out loud.

Yahweh, I know You are near,
standing always at my side.
You guard me from the foe.
And You lead me in ways everlasting.

Lord, You have searched my heart,
and You know when I sit and when I stand.
Your hand is upon me protecting me from death,
keeping me from harm. [Refrain]

Where can I run from Your love?
If I climb to the heavens You are there;
If I fly to the sunrise or sail beyond the sea,
still I’d find You there. [Refrain]

You know my heart and its ways,
You who formed me before I was born,
In the secret of darkness before I saw
the sun in my mother’s womb. [Refrain]

Marvelous to me are Your works;
how profound are Your thoughts, my Lord.
Even if I could count them, they number as the stars,
You would still be there. [Refrain]

I looked up the lyrics because I could only recall the refrain and most of the second verse.  I discovered (oh the wonders of the internet!) that the composer of this Catholic hymn is Dan Schutte.  He also wrote one of my all time favorite hymns, “Here I Am, Lord,” also known as “I, the lord of sea and sky”.  How cool!

This song has been the soundtrack of my week.  I hope it brings you peace and stillness too.