Today

—Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey

Take My Hand, Precious Lord

Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn
Thru the storm, thru the night, lead me on the light
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.

When my way grows drear, precious Lord, linger near
When my life almost gone
Hear my cry, hear my call, hold my hand lest I fall
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.

When the darkness appears and the night draws near
And the day is past and gone
At the river I stand, guide my feet, hold my hand
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.


     The choir was singing this hymn with all the emotion that a choir can. They harmonized, they swayed, they lent their own feelings to the lyrics and to the melody. It truly was beautiful. It was as though everyone was acquainted with the metaphors of death and dying. It was powerful.
     All through the hymn I flashed to some of the times that I had felt those feelings, that part about, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn, especially most recently in the last 3 years, but they are not the same any more. I am no longer tired or weak or worn maybe a bit on the worn side but not in the sense of "at the river I stand". And it struck me - that is no longer me. Oh how far I have come. Oh sure, life will never be like it was, healthwise. I can't do what I used to do and "I ain't half the man I used to be". And yet it is not a cause for feeling bitter or cheated, although I have courted those inclinations at times. It was, instead a wonderful feeling of being whole, of being healed.
     As I write this I am at MDA for a CT scan and a bone marrow biopsy, usually done every 3 months, now at 6 months. I will also see Dr. Khouri and it has been about 8 weeks since I have seen him and it was usually every 2 to 3 weeks. I have more energy and overall recovering well.  There is much, so very much, for which I am thankful.