In the Garden
""One day in March, 1912, I was seated in the dark-room, where I kept my photographic equipment, and organ. I drew my Bible toward me; it opened at my favorite chapter, John XX -- whether by chance or inspiration let each reader decide. That meeting of Jesus and Mary had lost none of its power to charm.
"As I read it that day, I seemed to be part of the scene. I became a silent witness to that dramatic moment in Mary's life, when she knelt before her Lord and cried, 'Rabboni!'
"My hands were resting on the Bible while I stared at the light blue wall. As the light faded I seemed to be standing at the entrance of a garden, looking down a gently winding path, shaded by olive branches. A woman in white, with head bowed, hand clasping her throat, as if to choke back her sobs, walked slowly into the shadows. It was Mary. As she came to the tomb, upon which she placed her hand, she bent over to look in, and hurried away.
"John, in flowing robe, appeared, looking at the tomb; then came Peter, who entered the tomb, followed slowly by John.
"As they departed, Mary reappeared, leaning her head upon her arm at the tomb, she wept. Turning herself, she saw Jesus standing, so did I. I knew it was He. She knelt before Him, with arms outstretched and looking into His face cried 'Rabboni!'
"I awakened in full light, gripping the Bible, with muscles tense and nerves vibrating. Under the inspiration of this vision I wrote as quickly as the words could be formed the poem exactly as it has since appeared. That same evening I wrote the music."
Thus writes C. Austin Miles of the remarkable experience which has given us "In the Garden.""
-- from Forty Gospel Hymn Stories, by George W. Sanville
In the Garden
by C. Austin MilesI come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.And He walks with me and He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known.He speaks and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.I'd stay in the garden with Him
Tho the night around me be falling
But he bids me go thru the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.
Reference
Sanville, George W. Forty Gospel Hymn Stories. Winona Lake, Indiana: The Rodeheaver-Hall Mack Company, 1943.
|
Featured News & Events |
in the year of our Lord