Maple Leaf Parish Spring Valley: Faith, Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston (and Lenora) United Methodist Churches
As many of you know, I am not a good singer, but I love happy, joyful, uplifting music! One of my favorite composers is Scott Joplin who lived in the early 1900’s and wrote contemporary ragtime music of his era. Happy, upbeat, toe-tapping music – the kind of music that brings smiles! Some time ago, I ran across an old hymnal, a songbook from the early 1900s. I thumbed through the pages and attempted to sing some of the songs. (I didn’t succeed with singing.) However, one song printed in this old song book really caught my attention. The melody was peppy and uplifting and the words were inspiring. I found it interesting that this song was popular just prior to the pandemic of 1917. Was there a premonition of the coming health crisis? Regardless, “Sunshine in My Soul” served as a very popular song in the years of the 1917 pandemic and beyond.
As I looked at the words of this energetic hymn, I let them along with the melody, speak to my soul in the days following the Coronavirus pandemic of our day. Hopefully, the Coronavirus pandemic continues to decline. These are new days of new beginnings.
From time to time I hear people ask about the great, old hymns that give encouragement to our human journey. Many of these hymns speak from the depths of the human condition and they are filled with the power and deep conviction of the Holy Spirit. These powerful, old hymns and gospel songs often tell a story – a story of the transforming and redeeming love of God in Jesus Christ!
Reprinted here are the words of “Sunshine in My Soul.” I hope they will bring a sense of happiness and joy to your day….
“There is sunshine in my soul today, more glorious and bright than glows in any earthly sky, for Jesus is my light.
Refrain: Oh, there’s sunshine, blessed sunshine, when the peaceful happy, moments roll; when Jesus shows his smiling, there is sunshine in my soul.
There is music in my soul today, a carol to my King; And Jesus, listening, can hear the songs I cannot sing.
There is springtime in my soul today; for when the Lord is near, the dove of peace sings in my heart, the flowers of grace appear.
There is gladness in my soul today, and hope and praise and love, for blessings which he gives me now, for joys laid up above.”
“Sunshine in My Soul,” Eliza E. Hewitt and John R. Sweney (copyright 1887)