The other night we watched a movie on Netflix Instant Watch. The movie was Bernie starring Jack Black, which turned out to be not at all what I expected. Bernie professed faith in Christ, and was highly respected as a caring Christian in the community. Part of the story involved the singing of several gospel hymns, which was also unexpected. The story is part narrative, part documentary, part point-of-view action, and all based on a true story.
The ending of the story played just the music, not the words, to an old hymn that Amy Grant made popular in 1979 on her “My Father’s Eye’s” album. The song “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded”, was the music in Bernie’s ending score.
Of course, hearing the music jogged my memory of the words, but with a busy weekend of church and friends and grocery shopping and de-cluttering a bedroom so our son can actually walk into the room where he will sleep when he visits at Christmas, distracted me from thinking about it again. And earlier that week, we had visited Revell and spent time with my marketing, publicity, and editorial teams, and I had the privilege of speaking to the company to thank them for all of the great work they do! (See the picture of Randy and me with some of the teams.)
By Sunday I was pretty exhausted and very happy to crawl into bed that night, surprised (though I probably shouldn’t have been) when I slept straight through without once waking up to roll over.
When I came out of my dreams this Monday morning, my mind did not immediately jump to things on my to-do list for the day as it usually does. Instead, the words to “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” started playing in my head.
I supposed this back-story is a convoluted way to share a song, but I’ve been singing the song on and off all day since I awoke to it’s tune and words. And when I cleaned out that bedroom yesterday, I found two old hymn books I had misplaced (and couldn’t find though I had searched for them last year), so the words were nice and handy!
I won’t sing it for you, as my voice is not what it once was. (Listen to Amy sing it on the above link. She changes the words a little.)
In truth, if not for that Sacred Wounded Head of our Savior, there would be no real Thanksgiving, which is why I consider it this year’s Thanksgiving song for me – even though it came back to my memory from the most unexpected of places.
May these words (ascribed to Bernard of Clairvaux 1091-1153) remind those of you who know Jesus what we truly have to be thankful for.
O Sacred Head, No Wounded
O sacred Head, now wounded, With grief and shame weighed down; Now scornfully surrounded With thorns, Thine only crown; O sacred Head, what glory, What bliss till now was Thine! Yet, though despised and gory I joy to call Thee mine.
What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered Was all for sinners’ gain: Mine, mine was the transgression, But Thine the deadly pain. Lo, here I fall, my Saviour! ‘Tis I deserve Thy place; Look on me with Thy favor, Vouch-safe to me Thy grace.
What language shall I borrow To thank Thee, dearest Friend: For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end? O make me Thine forever; And should I fainting be, Lord, let me never, never Outlive my love to Thee. Amen.
