A text whose time has come?
Once every so often you meet a hymn that demonstrates single-handedly that the hymn writing age is not over. Even today a potential masterpiece may be fashioned for churches yet unborn to inherit.
Such riches do not come out of the blue. They often emerge after years of grafting away at acceptable but lesser lines, as someone's skill slowly approaches that special standard granted to a few of God's creative children. Contrary to legend, the Lord does not 'inspire' writers by using them as mere pens in his hand, or even word processors at his desk.
The hymns I am describing rarely yield all their riches instantly, though when you hear one in the great congregation you want to go back to ponder and savour and sing it again sometime. It rings true to Scripture and experience, showing the former from a new perspective and lifting us beyond anything we have personally felt before.
