My blog title is taken from a hymn of the same name by Charles Wesley, published in 1742 and usually set to the tune Candler. It is #638 in the Episcopal Church's Hymnal 1982 and #386 in the United Methodist Hymnal.
The hymn is about Jacob wrestling with the angel (Genesis 32: 26-32.) The text shows Jacob wrestling with the unknown being (whether angel, human, or God, we are left uncertain) throughout the entire night. When the angel realizes that he is not prevailing, he touches Jacob's hip socket and causes it to be thrown out of place. Jacob demands the angel's name and is instead blessed with a new name, Israel (because Jacob has wrestled with humans and God.)
While a whole variety of metaphors are appropriate for humankind's relationship with God and the Church, the image of wrestling with God makes a lot of sense to me. The struggle is long, difficult, and sometimes bitter. Just when I think I'm winning, God throws something out of whack and I'm left paralyzed. God, however, is not malicious and does not leave the fight without first blessing me and giving me a piece of my true identity, my true name.
In a lot of ways, blogging is also a struggle for me. I'm not very consistent with my writing or with my blog keeping. Just as soon as I get settled into a new blog, I find reasons why another blog platform is more attractive or a new title that I'd rather have instead. It is my goal to continue through the struggle with blogging as well, hoping indeed that some further part of my identity with God will be revealed herein.
The words of the hymn are below. YouTube has several fine recordings, as well.
Blessings and welcome,
Cody
Come, O thou Traveller Unknown
Come, O thou Traveller unknown, Whom still I hold, but cannot see!
My company before is gone, And I am left alone with Thee;
With Thee all night I mean to stay, And wrestle till the break of day.
I need not tell Thee who I am, My misery and sin declare;
Thyself hast called me by my name, Look on Thy hands, and read it there;
But who, I ask Thee, who art Thou? Tell me Thy name, and tell me now.
In vain Thou strugglest to get free, I never will unloose my hold!
Art Thou the Man that died for me? The secret of Thy love unfold;
Wrestling, I will not let Thee go, Till I Thy name, Thy nature know.
Wilt Thou not yet to me reveal Thy new, unutterable Name?
Tell me, I still beseech Thee, tell; To know it now resolved I am;
Wrestling, I will not let Thee go, Till I Thy Name, Thy nature know.
’Tis all in vain to hold Thy tongue Or touch the hollow of my thigh;
Though every sinew be unstrung, Out of my arms Thou shalt not fly;
Wrestling I will not let Thee go Till I Thy name, Thy nature know.
What though my shrinking flesh complain, And murmur to contend so long?
I rise superior to my pain, When I am weak, then I am strong
And when my all of strength shall fail, I shall with the God-man prevail.
Contented now upon my thigh I halt, till life’s short journey end;
All helplessness, all weakness I On Thee alone for strength depend;
Nor have I power from Thee to move: Thy nature, and Thy name is Love.
My strength is gone, my nature dies, I sink beneath Thy weighty hand,
Faint to revive, and fall to rise; I fall, and yet by faith I stand;
I stand and will not let Thee go Till I Thy Name, Thy nature know.
Yield to me now, for I am weak, But confident in self-despair;
Speak to my heart, in blessings speak, Be conquered by my instant prayer;
Speak, or Thou never hence shalt move, And tell me if Thy Name is Love.
’Tis Love! ’tis Love! Thou diedst for me! I hear Thy whisper in my heart;
The morning breaks, the shadows flee, Pure, universal love Thou art;
To me, to all, Thy bowels move; Thy nature and Thy Name is Love.
My prayer hath power with God; the grace Unspeakable I now receive;
Through faith I see Thee face to face, I see Thee face to face, and live!
In vain I have not wept and strove; Thy nature and Thy Name is Love.
I know Thee, Saviour, who Thou art. Jesus, the feeble sinner’s friend;
Nor wilt Thou with the night depart. But stay and love me to the end,
Thy mercies never shall remove; Thy nature and Thy Name is Love.
The Sun of righteousness on me Hath rose with healing in His wings,
Withered my nature’s strength; from Thee My soul its life and succour brings;
My help is all laid up above; Thy nature and Thy Name is Love.
Lame as I am, I take the prey, Hell, earth, and sin, with ease o’ercome;
I leap for joy, pursue my way, And as a bounding hart fly home,
Through all eternity to prove Thy nature and Thy Name is Love.
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