ORSBORNAGAIN (21)
A devotional series by Major Rob Birks
ORSBORNAGAIN is meant to introduce the poetry of the first Poet General, Albert Orsborn (1886-1967) to a new audience and to reintroduce his works to dyed-in-the-(tropical)-wool Salvationists.
These are not new songs.
However, the lyrics are jam-packed with new life, which may be missed during corporate worship. Re-examined through scripture and experience, Rob Birks intends through an examination of these scared songs to renew the spiritual fervor of believers, and point seekers to their Savior.
Life is a journey; long is the road,
And when the noontide is high
Souls that are weary faint ‘neath their load,
Long for the waters, and cry:
The well is deep and I require
A draught of the water of life,
But none can quench my soul’s desire
For a draught of the water of life;
Till one draws near who the cry will heed,
Helper of men in their time of need,
And I, believing, find indeed
That Christ is the water of life.
Life is a seeking, life is a quest,
Eager and longing desire;
Unto the true things, unto the best,
Godward our spirits aspire.
Life is a finding; vain wand’rings cease
When from the Saviour we claim
All we have longed for, solace and peace,
And we have life in his name.
Albert Orsborn
430 Our Response to God – Salvation, Invitation and Challenge
Back in the day, when I worked at camp most summers, I used to look forward to the nightly campfires. I worked with some of the funniest, most creative people. We did our duty during the day, but even then we were planning what we would do at night, by the glow of the fire created by the maintenance staff, to make each other (and maybe even the campers) laugh. I am so thankful the summer camp ministry is focused on more important things these days. (Having said that, my son does currently hold the title of “Pop-n- Sock World Champion” at Camp Arnold in Washington.)
Anyway, several of the old camp skits incorporated the use of water. It was rarely ever used for drinking. It was usually thrown on an “unsuspecting” staff or guest staff member who “volunteered.” At the opening campfire of the 2012 music and worship arts camp at Camp Redwood Glen, I was happy to see that this tradition is still being observed (in this case, a “fire” was put out).
Water was sometimes used in a crude fashion, as was the case in the “Herman the Caterpillar” skit. But it was also used creatively and classically, like when the Grecian water dance was performed to the strings of Pachelbel’s Canon, (OK, the participants wore togas, drank water from dining hall pitchers and performed a sort of synchronized spitting routine—not so classy, but still creative).
Then there was the skit that everyone has seen in one form or another. Before the skit begins, a glass of water is placed on one end of the stage. An actor crawls onto the other end of the stage crying out in a weak voice: “Water!” This one line is repeated more dramatically, as the excruciating crawl continues toward the glass. “Water!” The audience is meant to get the impression the actor is dying of thirst, and must make it to the water in time. Finally, just before (almost) everyone loses interest, the water is reached. The actor cries out something like: “Water! At last! I’m saved!” He then produces a comb from his pocket, dips it in the water, and exits the stage combing his hair to the giggles and groans of the camp crowd. Nothing life changing, just some good, clean, harmless fun.
The picture Orsborn paints with the words we’re considering here is a bit different. Water is definitely the answer in this scene, but this is no camp skit. This is real life. It’s a journey down a long road, with the blistering heat of the day beating down on humanity. Weary souls fall, crawl, nearly die and cry: “Water! Water!”
This song is definitely inspired by Jesus’ encounter with a woman in the fourth chapter of John (clues: noon, well, water). Jesus was sitting by Jacob’s well when a Samaritan woman came to draw water from it. Jesus asked for a drink, which shocked the woman, since there were all kinds of earthly reasons he shouldn’t be talking to her. Jesus, who had all kinds of heavenly reasons to talk to her, said, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water” (John 4:10).
Then, to answer a few more questions she posed, Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:13-14).
This woman was “weary.” Her “load” was heavy. We aren’t told a whole lot about her, but what we do know is that hers was a life of “longing desire” and “vain wand’rings.” She most certainly needed to find “solace and peace,” but none could “quench” her “soul’s desire.” Then one drew near who heard her cry. The “helper of men” and women “in their time of need”—Christ, the water of life. Her journey from thirsty to satisfied is my journey. Orsborn recognized it as his journey. I pray you have found “life in his name.” Jesus, who knew thirst on his own journey (John 19:28), said, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink” (John 7:37).
Because of the testimony of the woman in John 4, many thirsty people in her town were satisfied that day. This fact should remind us that we can’t bottle up this life-water and keep it all to ourselves. Neither should we throw this water on unsuspecting passersby, or just cleverly spit it out to musical accompaniment to entertain ourselves. Humanity is not dying to comb its hair. It is dying of thirst. Those of us who have been to the well, and have met with and received life-giving water from Jesus, should be all about bringing OTHERS back to the well—carefully, compassionately, and creatively.
BTW—draught = drink, gulp, swallow