ARE YOU TETHERED?

 


 If you grew up on a farm you probably know what a tether is; our kids and grandkids bat the tetherball around the pole at Hunter’s Ice Cream.

 Being tethered indicates you’re connected to something that lets you move, but only within a particular radius. That’s why the term is used so often now to describe how we are with our electronic devices – we can move around but we’re connected, and that connection actually restricts and confines us. It keeps us from being able to pay thoughtful attention to people who deserve it, from being able to fully concentrate on a task, and worse…it can keep us from being able to be mindful of the presence of the Lord and tuned in to what he’s trying to say to us.

 So this week of “Following Jesus”, we’re encouraged to disconnect…unplug…cut the cord.

 But here’s a different spin on being tethered;  there is a beautiful hymn in our purple Glory to God hymnal on page 529; “Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether”; written around 1931 and the music composed in the 1950s, it’s a favorite of many Lutheran and Roman Catholic congregations.

 It talks about being drawn into close communion with God when we are communing with other believers – even just one or two others:

 

Draw us in the Spirit's tether, for when humbly in your name

two or three are met together, you are in the midst of them.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Here we touch your garment's hem.

As disciples used to gather in the name of Christ to sup,

then with thanks to God the giver break the bread and bless the cup,

Alleluia! Alleluia!  So now bind our friendship up.

            All our meals and all our living make as sacraments of you,

that by caring, helping, giving, we may be disciples true.

Alleluia! Alleluia! We will serve with faith anew. *

Enjoy this fairly old, but very well-done recording of the hymn:

                https://youtu.be/zuEz4KYUwnA

Joy Christian

 

*words reprinted under one license.ent A-725158

 

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