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IN the GARDEN

   It was sometime during Lent, and I was preparing my Easter Morning message to share with my congregation in New Holland, Lancaster County, PA.  My young associate was a newly-ordained pastor who, looking over my shoulder, begged me not to choose “In The Garden” as one of our congregational hymns.  “Why not?” I casually asked.  He answered, “It’s too subjective.  It’s sticky sweet and overly sentimental. I really hate it.”  I was glad that Pastor Dave Fulmer could express himself so forthrightly and so eloquently.  It did me good to know that he could confide in me what was in his heart.  So I chose it.  I figured that he, and most of our church membership, did not know the background or the story of that hymn.  The text of the hymn is John 20:11-18.  It’s the story of Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the risen Lord.  The hymn actually represents her personal testimony.   

"One day in March 1912,  C. Austin Miles opened his Bible to his favorite chapter, John 20 ----- {He} later said 'As I read it that day, I seemed to be part of the scene---.  {Mary was weeping outside the tomb.} Turning ---, she saw Jesus.  She knelt before Him, and looking into His face, cried, "Rabboni!" meaning My Master. ---- Under the inspiration of this vision I wrote as quickly, as the words would be formed, the poem as it has since appeared.  That same evening I wrote the music.

 Charles Austin Miles
Charles Austin Miles (January 7, 1868 – March 10, 1946), a resident of Pitman, NJ, would wind up writing nearly 400 songs, but his best-known will always be “In The Garden.”    Like Mary Magdalene, you and I are sometimes despondent, feeling like the bottom of our life has suddenly dropped out.  But the same Christ who walked with her will also walk with us.  Then we will experience the joyful surprise that, in our lostness, we have been found.

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Shine Like the Stars

Available for Pre-Order.  Each of us has been given a gift: our life. Someday we must return it to its rightful owner. We are free to use this gift in any way we choose: to glorify God or to glorify ourself. St. Paul used his to glorify God and, in so doing, found the secret of joy. decided to write a devotional commentary on his letter to the fledgling Christian community in Philippi. They too were discovering the secret of genuine joy. I am hoping that the same faith which dazzled them will do the same for you, and that the same joy which filled their hearts will fill yours. Get ready to shine like stars.

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