“For The Living of These Days”

Harry Emerson Fosdick visits me this morning through his writings and particularly through  his famous hymn:  “God of Grace, and God of Glory,” composed for the dedication of Riverside Church in New York City (1930).  Are you familiar with it?  I find the hymn helpful in the “Living of These Days” in the midst of a pandemic.  When Fosdick wrote his autobiography in 1954 he wrestled with finding a title for it.  He sought advice from others, including my spiritual mentor, Elton Trueblood, who suggested the autobiography be titled “The Living of These Days” using Fosdick’s own words from “God of Grace, and God of Glory.” (Fosdick tells in the Preface to his book how the title was selected).

“Grant us wisdom, Grant us courage, for the facing of this hour. 

 Grant us wisdom, Grant us courage, for the living of these days.”

We need wisdom and we need courage, for the facing of this present hour.  We need wisdom and we need courage, for the living of these days.  These are tough days and will probably get tougher still, given the economic impact, the unemployment and all the rest.  We are living these days in the midst of a horrific virus that has already taken 80,000 lives here in the United States alone (about 285,000 deaths worldwide).  Health professionals anticipate that another 50,000 deaths could occur here in the U.S. in the days to come (and that estimate is dependent upon our following the guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus).

Wisdom (sagacity) is the ability to think and act using knowledge, experience, understanding and common sense and insight for the living of these days.  Wisdom is the ability to think and act according to what little we know (at this point in time) about the coronavirus.  We do know, and we have experienced the fact that the virus can be curbed if we follow the guidelines of social distancing, staying-at-home, wearing a mask, etc.  “God of Grace, and God of Glory, on thy people pour thy power…Grant us wisdom for the facing of this hour.”

Courage is the choice and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, and uncertainty.  We know this virus has brought agony into many families and communities, we know that it has caused great pain (physically, economically, emotionally, both individually and collectively) and we know that Covid-19 poses a clear and present danger to thousands upon thousands of lives today and tomorrow, and in the tomorrows to come.  We are filled with uncertainty because we do not know how long this will go on or if a vaccine will come along.  We are uncertain about our financial situations, our jobs, our families, our grandchildren, and we do not know what the future holds.  We need to choose courage over our uncertainty and our fear.  We must be willing to confront, as best we can, whatever is to come.  “God of Grace, and God of Glory, on thy people pour thy power…Grant us courage for the living of these days.” 

“Fears and doubts too long have bound us…

Save us from weak resignation…

Grant us wisdom, Grant us courage…

for the facing of this hour…for the living of these days.”