Straight Paths- In The Sweet By and By

In The Sweet By and By

Loren Hardin

The Ashland Beacon

             This is part two of a series about Tom and Faye. Tom was sixty-eight when he enrolled in hospice services with ALS, “Lou Gehrig’s Disease”. Tom’s gentle, humble spirit causes one to wonder what he has that many of us don’t. Oswald Chambers (1874-1917), Scottish evangelist and teacher, wrote, “We can’t give to another that which we have found, but we can make them homesick for what we have,” (My Utmost for His Highest). I admit, Tom makes me homesick for what he has. Over my forty-seven years as a medical and hospice social worker, I’ve observed that some people, like some trees, manifest their glory and splendor right before their leaves begin to fall. Tom’s leaves were about to fall. 

            When I asked Tom what helped him cope, he replied, “Staying humble”.  He explained, “I thought I was ten foot tall and bullet proof, that I could move mountains. But God showed me that I’m only about a half inch tall and can only flick rocks.”  Despite the total upheaval of their lives Faye proclaimed, “We are more thankful now than ever. We are happier here than anywhere.”  

             But Tom and Faye, just like the rest of us, have their share of challenges. During one of my visits Faye was deeply troubled over a conflict with a close family member. Tom, attempting to console Faye, suggested; “Faye, you are seeing through a glass dimly, but by and by, you will see more clearly.” Then Tom turned toward me and said, “God’s been showing me that He can make something good come out of everything.” Tom then quoted Romans 8: 28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Then Tom expounded, “But it has to work, like making pickles or sauerkraut. It’s a process and you can’t rush it. It takes time. Some things may not even work out until after you’re gone. Look at the apostle Paul. He’s saved more people since his death, through his epistles, than he did when he was alive.”   

             Tom’s suggestion to Faye that, “by and by”, she would see more clearly, reminds me of the well-known hymn, “In the Sweet by and by”, by Sanford Fillmore Bennett (1836-1898).  Bennett recounts the genesis of the song in his autobiography (Wikipedia): “Mr. Webster, like many musicians, was of an exceedingly nervous and sensitive nature, and subject to periods of depression in which he looked upon the dark side of all things in life...He came into my place of business, walked down to the stove, and turned his back on me without speaking… Turning to him, I said, ‘Webster, what is the matter now?’, ‘It's no matter,’ he replied, ‘It will be all right by and by.’ The idea of the hymn came to me like a flash of sunlight, and I replied, ‘The Sweet By and By!’…Turning to my desk I penned the words of the hymn as fast as I could write. I handed the words to Webster. As he read his eyes kindled, and stepping to the desk he began writing the notes. Taking his violin, he played the melody.”

             “There's a land that is fairer than day, and by faith we can see it afar, for the Father waits over the way, to prepare us a dwelling place there. In the sweet by and by, we shall meet on that beautiful shore. We shall sing on that beautiful shore, the melodious songs of the blest, and our spirits shall sorrow no more, not a sigh for the blessing of rest. To our bountiful Father above we will offer our tribute of praise, for the glorious gift of his love and the blessings that hallow our days,” YouTube, “In the Sweet By and by.” 

             Tom and I talked about the last developmental task of life, of shifting our hope from the physical to the spiritual, from the temporal to the eternal. We talked about how there are some promises and rewards we must wait an eternity for. Afterall, we aren’t home yet. 

              “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things, declare plainly that they seek a homeland,” (Hebrews 11: 13-16).

            Loren Hardin was a social worker with SOMC-Hospice for twenty-nine years and is presently an active volunteer. He can be reached at 740.357.6091 or at lorenhardin53@gmail.com. You can order Loren's book, "Straight Paths: Insights for living from those who have finished the course", at Amazon