Words of a Swedish Hymn
for
Prayer, Meditation and Reflection
Text of a beloved Swedish hymn, "The Love of God Is Broad Like a Beach," become prayers for Holy Week as we consider walls that divide and the freedom God gives in Jesus Christ. This hymn was sung in German churches as the people contemplated the Berlin Wall. That wall of separation was finally torn down in 1989.
Your love, O God is broad like beach and meadow,
wide as the wind, and an eternal home.
You leave us free to seek you or reject you,
you give us room to answer 'yes' or 'no'.
Chorus: The love of God is broad like beach and meadow,
wide as the wind, and an eternal home.
We long for freedom where our truest being
is given hope and courage to unfold.
We seek in freedom space and scope for dreaming,
and look for ground where trees and plants can grow.
Chorus: The love of God is broad like beach and meadow,
Wide as the wind, and an eternal home.
But there are walls that keep us all divided;
We fence each other in with hate and war.
Fear is the bricks-and-mortar of our prison,
Our pride of self the prison coat we wear.
Chorus: The love of God is broad like beach and meadow,
Wide as the wind, and an eternal home.
We long for freedom where our truest being
Is given hope and courage to unfold.
We seek in freedom space and scope for dreaming,
And look for ground where trees and plants may grow.
Chorus: The love of God is broad like beach and meadow,
Wide as the wind, and an eternal home.
English text: Fred Kaan (born 1929) translated from the Swedish of Anders Frostenson (born 1906)
English translation © 1974,
SOURCE 1989 Stainer & Bell Ltd
Text: Anders Frostenson Music: Lars Ake Lundberg
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