While You’re Waiting . . .

April 7, 2012 by 25 Comments

O Sacred Head, Sore Wounded

O sacred head, sore wounded, defiled and put to scorn; O kingly head, surrounded with mocking crown of thorn:  what sorrow mars thy grandeur? Can death thy bloom deflower? O countenance whose splendor the hosts of heaven adore!

Thy beauty, long-desired, hath vanished from our sight; thy power is all expired , and quenched the light of light. Ah me! for whom thou diest, hide not so far thy grace:  show me, O Love most highest, the brightness of thy face.

In thy most bitter passion my heart to share doth cry, with thee for my salvation upon the cross to die.  Ah, keep my heart thus moved to stand thy cross beneath, to mourn thee, well-beloved, yet thank thee for thy death.

I stand next to my husband amid the wooden pews, our voices joining the saints to declare these words written in the 11th century. And in timeless words, the Spirit breathes me undone. 
We’re waiting in expectation here for resurrection, preparing for the Easter celebration tomorrow.  And I’m thinking of you, how much I want to share this song with you to ponder together: Can death thy bloom deflower? Happy Saturday friends.

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  • http://journeytoepiphany.wordpress.com kd sullivan

    Do you remember Amy Grant’s version of this song accompanied only by thunder? It was lovely…Your words, as usual bring me alongside of you, which is the whole point to begin with…

    • http://myredeemedlife.wordpress.com Redemption’s Beauty

      I don’t remember it Kim, will have to look it up. Thanks for telling me. Glad to have you walking alongside. Blessings to you today my friend.

  • http://overcomingloneliness.wordpress.com waterthecamels

    Wow, thank you for that. What a song to begin the day with!

    • http://myredeemedlife.wordpress.com Redemption’s Beauty

      So glad you enjoyed it Jody.

  • http://everydayordinarydawnings.wordpress.com Dawn@Dawnings

    A beautiful cemetary. Death’s beauty is found only in our risen Savior. I don’t know this hymn, headed to Youtube hoping for Amy Grant. Happy Easter, Shelly.

    • http://myredeemedlife.wordpress.com Redemption’s Beauty

      That is a cemetary on our church property, hundreds of years old and generations of families buried there. I felt His presence as I walked around the new life of spring covering up death. I’m going to go hunt down that Amy Grant version of the song too.

  • http://sandraheskaking.com/ Sandra Heska King

    I love walking in cemeteries, and this in the waiting with the pink blooms and the flower pushing up from the stone and these words, “Can death thy bloom deflower,” is stunning.

    • http://myredeemedlife.wordpress.com Redemption’s Beauty

      Never thought I would find so much beauty in a cemetary Sandra. It’s beautiful during each season. And that line, it just haunts me.

  • Kelly

    Such a beautiful hymn..what a day of waiting and pondering, glad to be doing it together with you!

    • http://myredeemedlife.wordpress.com Redemption’s Beauty

      So glad you are with me along this journey Kelly. Love you lots my sweet friend.

  • Dea

    The photographs in cemetery remind me of this: “And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” (Matt. 27:51-53).
    Among the graves—a good place to wait.

    • http://myredeemedlife.wordpress.com Redemption’s Beauty

      Beautiful verse Dea. Wish I would’ve had that one when I put this post together! Thank you. And Happy Easter my dear friend! I will be rejoicing with you along the shore.

  • http://www.curlygirlSLP.blogspot.com Michelle Ortega

    The bloom in the last photo, so delicate and vibrant all at once…LIFE! Coming over from Still Saturday and blessed by your post!

    • http://myredeemedlife.wordpress.com Redemption’s Beauty

      It is the way I saw it too Michelle. So nice to meet you and find your place today. Happy Easter!

  • http://perichoreticlife.wordpress.com athanasius96

    These photos are exceptionally beautiful! I went to a church that had full length windows along the side by the cemetery to remind us of our mortality and that God is worshipped through all generations.

    • http://myredeemedlife.wordpress.com Redemption’s Beauty

      Thank you for the compliment. I had a fun adventure in this cemetary on our church property. Such a beautiful reminder of His providence in our lives among the saints that trod before us.

  • http://www.asacredlonging.blogspot.com Denise

    Undone – in this one word – I linger today.

    Those pictures are amazing. Beauty in the midst of the tombs.

    • http://myredeemedlife.wordpress.com Redemption’s Beauty

      Denise, nice to be pondering in the wait with you today.

  • http://careann.wordpress.com Carol

    There’s such bittersweet beauty here. The photos are exquisite! Thanks for sharing your Still Saturday.

    • http://myredeemedlife.wordpress.com Redemption’s Beauty

      Carol, thank you. Your photos are beautiful as well. Nice to visit with you today on Holy Saturday.

  • http://mcclendonvilla.wordpress.com celticmama36

    Beautiful!

  • dukeslee

    Gorgeous.

    Waiting with you … I’m so ready to shout out the words: “He is risen indeed!”

    • http://myredeemedlife.wordpress.com Redemption’s Beauty

      Me too Jennifer. Can’t wait for Lent to end and the celebration to begin. I am so ready.

  • http://sylvrpen.com Sylvia R

    Beautiful reflections and photos. Beautiful hymn that I love so much. Thank you for sharing this. The little flower by the gravestone will stick in my mind. Rich blessings to you!

  • http://wolfsrosebud.wordpress.com wolfsrosebud

    beautiful capture of the beauty and death in your pictures and words… nicely done