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And That’s the Way It Is

August 16, 2012

“The Navy Hymn,” “Eternal Father Strong to Save,” and “For Those in Peril on The Sea” are all ways people refer to the second of three hymns that were the sountrack for a meeting between FDR and Churchill.  It’s a song about God’s protection.

In its original form, all four verses stem from Scripture — Psalm 104, John 6, Genesis 1 and Psalm 107, respectively.  There are versions for just about every branch of the military.  There’s even a verse for astronauts.

My personal favorite use of this hymn comes from Walter Cronkite.  That venerable CBS tv news anchor ended his broadcasts with the words, “And that’s the way it is.”  This hymn was sung by those at his funeral St. Bartholomew’s Church in New York City.

The original words are:

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walkedst on the foaming deep,
And calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
Most Holy Spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger’s hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe’er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.

Powerful lyrics, stirring melody, and a stong God of calm, peaceful and powerful love: “And,” as Walter said, “that’s the way it is.”

Let’s help people remember that today.

Starting with ourselves.

What line from this song will you carry with you today?

Or what lyric will carry you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

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4 Comments
  1. Ann Roedl's avatar
    Ann Roedl permalink

    This has been a favorite hymn of mine since I was a little girl.Little did I know that years later my youngest son would serve in the Navy.I always get the image of Jesus walking on the water with His arms outstretched when I hear the 1st line..Such a great song.I have heard it sung by an armed forces choir and it gave me goosebumps.

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  2. Nanette's avatar
    Nanette permalink

    Day is almost over, but this, “O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard And hushed their raging at Thy word, Who walkedst on the foaming deep, And calm amidst its rage didst sleep;” would have been it. I love the meter of this hymn. My dad was in the Navy, briefly. An injury just before shipping out for the Pacific left him on the shore. Why this verse? Because it cries for me right now. Long story short I am looking for the calm amidst the rage I feel around me. Glad I got here though.

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