Advent Devotions

Today’s author is Prince of Peace’s Intentional Interim, Pr. Steve Sylvester.

The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we will also live with him. (2 Timothy 2:11)

At the end of worship on July 12, our worship leaders sang “I’ll Fly Away.”  It’s a beautiful song, one of my favorites.  It’s also a difficult song for me.  It was the final song we sang at our son Sam’s funeral on June 5, 2023 at Prince of Peace.

Before last Sunday, I had heard the song only once since then.  It was on my first Sunday back at First Lutheran in Hinckley, after Sam’s death.  Before worship, Elaine Jensen, the Bells director, came up to me and said, “I wanted to let you know that we’re singing “I’ll Fly Away” today.  It was a small kindness I will always remember.  When we got to the song, I listened to the words and thought about all the people who were holding us close. I thought about the small and large kindnesses (that have not stopped even to this day). And I thought about Paul’s message, spoken so succinctly in the words above: “If we have died with [Christ], we will also live with him.”

“I’ll Fly Away” will always remind me of Sam.  Always.  And it will always remind me of the hope we have in Christ that we do not lose forever those we love. 

Some glad morning when this life is o’er
I’ll fly away
To a home on God’s celestial shore
I’ll fly away

I’ll fly away, oh glory
I’ll fly away
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by
I’ll fly away

When the shadows of this life have gone
I’ll fly away
Like a bird from prison bars has flown
I’ll fly away

I’ll fly away, oh glory
I’ll fly away
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by
I’ll fly away

Just a few more weary days and then
I’ll fly away
To a land where joy shall never end
I’ll fly away