Abide with me

On the weekend of 3rd & 4th May 1997, shortly before our return to Singapore to retire, my wife and I visited Brixham to conduct meetings at a very small Corps.

It was in this little town that Henry Francis Lyte wrote his swan song in the valley of the shadow of death. He was stricken with tuberculosis and had been ordered to go to the south of France to rest. Mr Lyte preached his farewell sermon at Brixham. After the service, he went for a stroll along the shore he loved so well. It had been a beautiful day and the sun was setting over the distant Dartmoor in a blaze of glory. Most probably he likened the scene to his own life. Later that evening he handed to a member of his family the words of "Abide with me" together with the tune of his own composing. He left for France, never to return to his beloved Brixham.

It was lovely to hear the church bells chime the lovely tune, "Abide with me" It was a most refreshing weekend we had in England and I often reflect on the time spent at Brixham.

With us that weekend was a Singaporean lady, Susan Lio who worked at the Property Department at UK Territory Headquarters. She was strong and healthy, full of life and energy. Never did we dream that she would be promoted to Glory soon after our return to Singapore the same year. We don't know when the Lord is going to call us home. Let us be ready when the summons comes.

"Abide with me, fast falls the eventide,
The darkness deepens, Lord with me abide!
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies;
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me"

"As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, or if due to strength, eighty years. yet their pride is but labour and sorrow; for soon it is gone and we fly away." Psalm 90: 10

From the Book of Common Prayer.

"O Lord, support us all day long, until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in Thy mercy grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at last."