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This morning's processional hymn at Christ Church Cathedral, Whitehorse. (Hymn #620 in the Anglican Church of Canada's hymn book, Common Praise.)
How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds
in a believer's ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
and drives away his fear.It makes the wounded spirit whole,
and calms the troubled breast;
'tis manna to the hungry soul,
and to the weary, rest.Dear Name, the rock on which I build,
my shield and hiding-place,
my never-failing treasury, filled
with boundless stores of grace!Jesus! my Shepherd, Brother, Friend,
my Prophet, Priest and King,
my Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
accept the praise I bring.Weak is the effort of my heart,
and cold my warmest thought;
but when I see thee as thou art,
I'll praise thee as I ought.Till then I would thy love proclaim
with every fleeting breath;
and may the music of thy Name
refresh my soul in death!
Words: John Newton (1725-1807), 1779
Music: St. Peter, Alexander Robert Reinagle, 1799-1877
That hymn lifted my spirits this morning. I needed to hear its message.
When I was told that retiring and moving are two of the most stressful experiences that can happen in one’s life, I was sceptical. I’d moved before and survived, and what’s so stressful about not going to work? After what’s been happening in the past few months, however, I am sceptical no more. Winding up personal and work-related affairs and getting ready for a big move across the country can take up a lot of time.
I apologise for infrequent blogging here for the past month, but I find I have neither time nor energy. Most days I am unable to keep up with blogs that I used to read regularly.
So, here is the news from this corner of Canada’s frozen North: My final day at work is to be this Thursday, 7 August. After some anxious waiting and many prayers, our house finally sold. The movers come to take our stuff away on 21 August, the new owners take possession on 22 August, and we travel south on 25 August. We will visit Calgary for about a week and then fly on to Halifax. Our new house, now being built in Falmouth, Nova Scotia, is on schedule, we are told, and will be ready for occupancy in early September.
We are looking forward to our big adventure, but it will be nice to be all moved in and settled.
