The Hymns that Made Me

Songs shape us. The sensory power of melody writes both the lyrics and the emotions deep into our psyche, shaping our very identity. That’s why people with advanced dementia somehow remember the words to songs they loved in earlier years. My internal music library contains everything from Gwen Stefani to Josh Groban, but without doubt, it will be hymns that may someday rouse me from a dementia fog. Kids, please add these 10 hymns to my playlist.

1. Holy, Holy, Holy

This song awakens my earliest sense of God’s presence, as a I wrote about here. It will forever take me back to stained glass and liturgy and white patent pumps. In some of my darkest times, this song played on continuous repeat in my heart.

Holy, holy, holy,

Lord God Almighty

Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.

Holy, holy, holy,

merciful and mighty

God in three persons, blessed trinity.

2. The Old Rugged Cross

I was seven years old when I gave my heart to Jesus. This song tells the redemption story simply, but powerfully. It was a favorite in the small Baptist churches of my youth.

On a hill far away stood an old, rugged cross,

The emblem of suffering and shame;

And I love that old cross, where the dearest and best

for a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

I will cling to the old, rugged cross

And exchange it someday for a crown.

3. Just As I Am

For ten formative childhood summers, I spent a week at Camp Grace in the mountains near Wheatland, Wyoming. It would be impossible to overstate how critically these weeks shaped my faith and my life direction. Without fail, evening chapel concluded with every verse of “Just As I Am.” On hearing the first few measures of this song, I find myself once again standing in my purple Converse All-Star high tops, surrendering my heart to the God of the universe.

Just as I am, without one plea,

But that thy blood was shed for me,

And that thou bidst me come to thee,

Oh, Lamb of God, I come. I come.

4. Rock of Ages

The images of this old hymn resonate in my depths. I am safe from life’s storms, hidden in the rock of my Savior.

Rock of ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in thee.

Let the water and the blood,

From thy wounded side which flowed,

be of sin the double cure,

save from wrath and make me pure.

While I draw this fleeting breath,

When my eyes shall close in death,

When I rise to worlds unknown,

And behold thee on thy throne,

Rock of ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in thee.

5. I’d Rather Have Jesus

My parents had an admirable record collection, and I spent many an hour cross-legged in front of the phonograph playing album after album. Most were classic country — Conway Twitty, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline — but some of those country artists also recorded hymns. My absolute favorite album was Jim Reeves, singing gospel favorites, including this one. Oh, that voice! No one can match his buttery rich baritone. I nearly wore that album out.

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold,

I’d rather be his than have riches untold.

I’d rather have Jesus than houses or land

Yes, I’d rather be led by his nail-pierced hands.

Than to be the King of a vast domain

and be held in sin’s dread sway.

I’d rather have Jesus than anything

This world affords today.

I’d rather have Jesus than worldly applause,

I’d rather be faithful to his dear cause.

I’d rather have Jesus than world wide fame,

Yes, I’d rather be true to his holy name.

6. Come Thou Fount

I don’t remember when this hymn became woven into my life, but it certainly did. No purer lyrics exist. I try not to complain about modern worship music, but really, does anything today even come close? No. I love the first verse, but it’s the third that captures my heart cry.

Oh, to grace how great a debtor

Daily I’m constrained to be!

Let thy goodness like a fetter,

Bind my wandering heart to thee.

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it,

Prone to leave the God I love.

Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,

Seal it for thy courts above.

7. How Great Thou Art

This song wells up from the depths of my soul, unbidden, whenever I witness God’s handiwork in nature. I simply cannot view the majestic Tetons without breaking into this song.

Oh, Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder

Consider all the worlds thy hands have made,

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,

Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee;

How great thou art,

How great thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee;

How great thou art,

How great thou art!

8. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

Of course, the repetitive tradition of Christmas carols binds them to our memories. My Christmas favorites list is long, but the top spot belongs to “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” Written in that dark chapter of our country’s Civil War, the message of hope feels freshly relevant with each new Christmas.

I heard the bells on Christmas day

Their old familiar carols play,

and wild and sweet the words repeat

of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair, I bowed my head:

“There is no peace on earth,” I said.

“For hate is strong and mocks the song

of peace on earth, good will to men.”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

“God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail

With peace on earth, good will to men.”

Till ringing, singing on its way,

The world revolved from night to day.

A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,

Of peace on earth, good will to men!

9. Up From the Grave He Arose

Just like Christmas carols, our Easter hymns become sacred through repetition. Truly, I’m not a cranky pants about today’s worship music, but some traditions should be off limits. Would it kill you to sing a hymn at Easter? And is it really Easter if the service doesn’t close with “Up From the Grave He Arose”? I think not. (Okay, that cranky pants thing….maybe a little bit!)

Low in the grave He lay,

Jesus, my Savior.

Waiting the coming day,

Jesus, my Lord!

Up from the grave he arose,

with a mighty triumph o’er his foes!

He arose a victor from the dark domain,

and He lives forever with His saints to reign.

He arose! He arose!

Hallelujah, Christ arose!

10. It Is Well With My Soul

When an EF-5 tornado leveled a third of my city in 2011, this song came to my lips. A mere 6 blocks outside the path of the storm, we sustained only minimal damage, but no one escaped unscathed. Everyone knew some degree of loss and devastation, even if indirectly. It would take months to clear the rubble and years to rebuild, but through the darkest days, Joplin folks drew on a deep reserve of faith. I cannot see the photos to this day without reliving the trauma, but also drawing strength from the source of our resiliency.

When peace like a river attendeth my way

When sorrows like sea billows roll

Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

My sin — oh the bliss of this glorious thought —

My sin, not in part but the whole

Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll.

The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend,

Even so, it is well with my soul.

Hopefully I won’t need this dementia playlist anytime soon, but I may just enjoy it now anyway! I’d love to hear what hymns made YOU!

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