Take My Hand
Last Friday was the Governor’s Prayer Breakfast. It was well attended, as usual, and I would like to thank Alan Klein for once again organizing a great event. Our speaker was former Congressman Mark Siljander, who had an amazing story of Christ’s love and grace in the difficult circumstances of his life. In addition to his keynote address, Governor Burgum spoke, there were various legislators who read passages of scripture and prayed, and much more. However, for me, while the whole morning was very meaningful, the part of the event with the greatest impact was not any of these. It was the choir.
I like almost all types of music, from hymns to rock, Country to EDM (those over 50 are excused from not knowing what this is), RAP to Gospel, and Alternative to Pop. Nevertheless, there is just something about choral music that seems to speak to me more than other types. Perhaps it’s from singing in various choirs over the years, or maybe because I have a wife and children who have a similar history of choral participation and who love the music.
The choir was made up primarily by legislators, but there was even a member of the Governor’s staff who participated. The group was directed by Senator Robert Erbele, who did a great job conducting them.
So why my fixation on the choir, particularly when there were arguably other very laudable parts of the prayer breakfast? Because of what I saw, what I heard, and what they embodied when combined.
If you look at the picture of the choir, above, you’ll see men and women, Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives, freshman legislators and those who have held their seats for decades. The choir was a melting pot of North Dakota political leaders. From my perspective, it represented the very best of who we are as a state. It gave a voice to all. That was the first part – what I saw.
Then there was what I heard. One of the songs they sang was "Take My Hand Precious Lord", a familiar gospel hymn for most of us. It is a very moving song and speaks to life’s hardships and how we long to rest with our Lord.
Now combine what I saw with what I heard. There you had legislators singing the same song, many of whom were about as politically different as you can imagine. Yet, there they stood, side-by-side singing:
Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me stand
I am tired, I'm weak, I am worn
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the light
Take my hand, precious Lord
Lead me home
Chorus, Take My Hand, Precious Lord, Thomas A. Dorsey
While this song is often used at memorial services, I think it also in a very real way described what those legislators were likely feeling.
After three months of unbelievably long days, intense analysis into hundreds of bills, innumerable debates and hearings, and being tested spiritually every day, I know with certainty that they were justified in saying, “I am tired, I'm weak, I am worn”. However, more importantly, they were asking in one voice for the Lord to take their hand and lead them. Despite all the differences, debates, or political leanings, they wanted the same thing; the Lord to help lead them.
And I have seen the Lord leading them; leading to shape the future of our state. He is helping them to see the right courses of action to ensure that His will is done, sometimes in amazing ways. Whether or not they always recognize it or even like it, God is giving them what they in some way are asking for in the song – direction in how to lead all of us.
I would ask that all of us pray for our legislators as they embark on this final leg of the legislative session. Let’s ask God to continue to lead them and keep them strong. Let’s also pray for Governor Burgum. He has many important decisions to make in the next few weeks, and we need to keep him and his staff in our prayers, so that they may make the right decisions for North Dakotans, and honor God in the direction our state should move.