When Sidey’s weekend theme – “The End” – finally appeared, (in full – whaddaya know? – but not until Saturday), on my screen, the title line to this post came instantly to mind (I bet it did to Hubs, too!). It is from a beautiful hymn (both music and lyrics) by Natalie Sleeth (10/29/1930 – 3/21/1992). While in the process of writing the hymn, she wrote that she was. . .
“…pondering the death of a friend (life and death, death and resurrection), pondering winter and spring (seeming opposites), and a T. S. Eliot poem which had the phrase, ‘In our end is our beginning.’ These seemingly contradictory ‘pairs’ led to the thesis of the song and the hopeful message that out of one will come the other whenever God chooses to bring that about.”
Her husband, Dr. Ronald Sleeth, heard Hymn of Promise shortly before he died, and asked that it be sung at his funeral.
This lovely video, in which you can hear the hymn sung, has photographs reminiscent of some of my own, and the photos were taken in the “Blue Ridge” near the part of the Smoky Mountains where I live. I’ve printed the lyrics with which you can follow along:
“Hymn of Promise”
© Natalie Sleeth 1986
In the bulb there is a flower;
In the seed, an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise:
Butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter,
There’s a spring that waits to be,
Unrevealed until its season,
Something God alone can see.
There’s a song in every silence,
Seeking word and melody;
There’s a dawn in every darkness,
bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future;
What it holds, a mystery,
Unrevealed until its season,
Something God alone can see.
In our end is our beginning;
In our time, infinity.
In our doubt, there is believing;
In our life, eternity.
In our death, a resurrection;
At the last, a victory
Unrevealed until its season,
Something God alone can see.
I have another “end” story to tell. Being true to my promise to myself to “back off a bit,” I will save that for tomorrow.
Natalie Sleeth’s perfect union of “word and melody” is enough. . .
Reflections From a Cloudy Mirror 
I had not seen this hymn until today it was sung in Rosebud Australia in the Uniting Church .I googled the writer’s name and then YouTube and sent the song with Lyrics to my sister and Neice who live in England . I then began looking for more of her writings and came across this site with the beautiful words and singer with magical pictures.
It moved me very deeply . Thank you sincerely it certainly lifted my day .
PTC ~ I’ve sent Patricia a link to this post and want to share one of hers with you:
http://todayithink.wordpress.com/2011/05/26/thursday-thankful-for-just-enough/
Thanks, Nancy – I visited her wonderful bog – appreciate the recommendation. I also sent her the link to my “What is Enough?” page.
Very good hymn 🙂
It’s the circle of life. 😀
Thanks for sharing this, Paula. I had the privilege of knowing Dr. and Mrs. Sleeth when he was President of West Virginia Wesleyan College and Natalie was writing hymns (and we got to sing a few for them, too). Beautiful words and music.
Lucky you! I would have liked to have that privilege! I have used lots of her hymns for some of the less able choirs I have directed because they are almost all eminently singable, and memorable – even for the non-music-readers.
One of the most beautiful hymns written in the 20th century and one of our favorites. The photos are reminiscent of yours, but not all as good as yours. Lovely.
Hubs