In August 1932, Thomas Dorsey, not the famous band leader, but a jazz musician, was scheduled to be the featured soloist in a St. Louis Church. Because his wife Nettie was pregnant, he worried about leaving her at home in Chicago. But he decided to keep his commitment and left for St. Louis. During the performance, a Western Union messenger handed Dorsey a telegram. Dorsey opened the envelope and read these four heartbreaking words. “Your wife just died.” He quickly returned home and learned that just before his wife Nellie died, she had given birth to a boy. Later that night, the baby died. “I buried Nettie and our son in the same casket,” he said. “Then, I fell apart. For days I closeted myself. I felt God had done me an injustice. I didn’t want to serve him anymore or write any more Gospel songs.” Then, one day, he sat down at a piano. “My hands began to browse on the keys,” he said, “then something happened. I thought I could reach out and touch God. I found myself playing a melody I had never heard before and words came into my head. “Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand, I am tired, I am worn. Through the storm, through the night, lead me on, to the light. Take my hand, Precious Lord, take me home.”
What satisfies our hunger? And why does it always cost so much, take such pain, to find it?
All through the Gospels, Jesus is trying to help us understand that although there is power and pleasure in money and things, and all the other sources of satisfaction of our human appetites, there is only one thing, one pearl of great price, the one thing needful. And until we allow the Lord to accompany us, walk with us and we walk with the Lord--- I will never know true happiness. Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand…
God bless! Have a wonderful week!