The Summons

(The United Methodist Hymnal – The Faith We Sing – #2130)

(soloist)  Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?

Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same?

Will you let my love be shown, will you let my name be known,

will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?

Lord, you are calling my name.  Your voice is soft and quiet, not easily heard above the demands of my life.   I feel your gentle nudging to do more, say more, be more…this makes me very uncomfortable.  I think I am already Christian enough – I am kind, I give to the poor, I attend church – what more do you want?

(soloist) Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?

Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?

Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?

Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?

What I do is not enough; you want me to change, to never be the same!  I am not Mother Teresa!  I am not a saint!  I am an ordinary person living an ordinary life.  I play it safe.  I am politically correct.  I don’t take risks.

(soloist) Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?

Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?

Will you kiss the leper clean, and do such as this unseen,

and admit to what I mean in you and you in me?

Alright, I do love you and you love me.  Is this relationship supposed to change me, make me someone I am not?  Or maybe…maybe you are asking me to stretch a little: to say “Yes” when asked to help, to make a meal for someone in need, to drive my neighbor to the doctor.  What if I mess up, take a wrong turn, burn the food, make a mistake?

(soloist) Will you love the “you” you hide if I but call your name?

Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?

Will you use the faith you’ve found to reshape the world around,

through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?

(ALL) Lord, your summons echoes true when you but call my name.

Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.

In your company I’ll go where your love and footsteps show.

Thus I’ll move and live and grow in you and you in me.