The sunlight on the water – Hymn

The sunlight on the water –  inspired by Luke 12: 13-21

1           The sunlight on the water
              Sets singing in our eyes
              A single glance of wonder, 
              A shimmering first surprise;
              But dusty practicalities,
              The thorn within our flesh,
              That recommend obedience
              Just will not let us rest.

2           The landfall at a haven,
              Our solitude replete,
              A foretaste of God’s heaven,
              Serenity complete,
              Is tempered by reality
              With feet firm on the ground.
              We recognise a call to live
              In this world’s sight and sound.

3           We turn again from wonder,
              From spiritual surprise,
              From laser light and thunder,
              Through dazzled, dancing eyes
              We see the grinding poverty,
              We smell the stench of death,
              And only sacrificial love
              Will lead through hell to rest.

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2000 Stainer & Bell Ltd., London, England copyright@stainer.co.uk . Please include any reproduction for local church use on your CCL Licence returns. All wider and any commercial use requires prior application to Stainer & Bell Ltd.
Metre: 7 6 7 6 8 6 8 6 Tune: CHRYSOSTOM Published in Whatever Name or Creed