The Summons

Last Sunday was a powerful experience. As Tom and I sat in the choir loft, we joined the congregation in singing "The Summons" by John L. Bell of the Iona Community

1.
Will you come and follow me
If I but call your name?
Will you go where you don’t know
And never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown,
Will you let my name be known,
Will you let my life be grown
In you and you in me?

We keep talking to each other about our sense of call, this pull to be in a different kind of prayer and service. We ask ourselves how far we're willing to go, how much out of our comfort zone we could venture, in answer to the call.

As the words of the song come to life inside me, tears well up. Tiny frissons dance up my skin as I sing and pray. I glance behind me at Tom, and I can see that he is also affected by the lyrics. In what ways will we change this summer? How much growth will I allow?

2.
Will you leave yourself behind
If I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind
And never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare
Should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer
In you and you in me?

As we read a variety of books and listen to tapes and watch videos, Tom and I are being challenged to step beyond our small "i" ego and open ourselves to the big "I" of communion with God in a transformed way. Are we really willing to care for anybody --- cruel or kind?

This time when I look at Tom, I catch his eye. He gulps and ceases to sing for a moment. We are both caught up in the magnitude of how we are saying "yes" to so much uncertainty while at the same time certain that God will not ask more than He will help us to become.

3.
Will you let the blinded see
If I but call your name?
Will you set the pris’ners free
And never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean,
And do such as this unseen,
And admit to what I mean
In you and you in me?

We're off to serve at Queen of Angels Monastery. We'll be there in less than a week. How will we be asked to serve? Will I shrink from loving any of God's children? Will I embrace the unloved and unlovely? I trust that God will grant me the grace to do all He asks.

As the tears stream down my face, I notice another singer's worried look. I whisper to her, "We're leaving for the monastery in a week." She nods at me in acknowledgement and we both resume singing.

4.
Will you love the ‘you’ you hide
If I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside
And never be the same?
Will you use the faith you’ve found
To reshape the world around,
Through my sight and touch and sound
In you and you in me?

Back to the tension between the false self and the true self. Will I let God touch all parts of me? Will I let His light and love transform the egocentric being I am most of the time into someone who can walk in faith?

Pastor Anita looks my way and sees the tears. She looks at Tom and then inclines her head with a slight smile, aware of the deep emotion welling up in us both.

5.
Lord, your summons echoes true
When you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you
And never be the same.
In your company I’ll go
Where your love and footsteps show.
Thus I’ll move and live and grow
In you and you in me.

Tom and I have been looking forward with great anticipation to our month with the Benedictine Sisters. I've been teasing him for the last few weeks that he would have left for Oregon long ago if it weren't for our teaching commitments.

As the last chords of the music fade, I am light-headed and cleansed, as if the searing emotion and tears have left an open space inside me that gently fills with peace and surety, for me a clear sign that I have been in communion with God.