"Our Shame Feels Like a Spiral"
/Here's a hymn that is the eighth in a series I’m writing that is inspired by A Sanctified Art’s upcoming 12-week creative bundle, "“Unraveled.” It is written in 7.6.7.6 D and is sung to the tune, LLANGLOFFAN, which is commonly used to sing “O God of Every Nation” and “Rejoice! Rejoice, Believers.” However, since it’s written in 7.6.7.6 D, it could work with many different tunes. It’s inspired by John 4:1-29.
Permission is given for use in congregational worship. Please give the following credit: "Copyright 2019 Stephen M. Fearing | www.stephenmfearing.com"
Click here for a pdf of this hymn.
Our shame feels like a spiral, a never-ending depth.
Our past weighs down our present; we’re burdened by its breadth.
We feel ourselves unraveled, unworthy, and undone;
exhausted from the gauntlet and judged by every one.
When we compare each other, it seeks to tear apart.
When we spew words of judgment, it breaks our haggard hearts.
Sometimes we’re shamed for mores that haunt us from the past.
And other times we’re judged for the sins that we’ve amassed.
O, Lord, you see us truly, as children whom you love.
Let’s end our shaming culture through wisdom from above.
Instead of judging others by standards we create,
help us see them as you do, as folks to celebrate!
Help us, dear God, unravel the shame that weighs us down,
and give us Jesus’ courage to spread your grace around!
Together we can flourish and heal the deep divides.
We pray, O Lord, to lead us with you, our faithful guide!