I saw the movie Selma on opening day with some friends.  It was a very emotional experience.

It was an honor to sit and watch surrounded by my “neighbors” and their emotions were audible throughout the film.

Just in the background, a couple of times, there was a song.  I don’t know where I know it from but the song snagged my soul.  I have never lived or worshipped in a context that favored this particular song.

Over the next week, shards of that song would lodge in my mind.  Usually just a word or two… never even a full line.  Eventually, I collected enough of those shards to find the lyrics on google.

We sang the song last night sitting around our sacred dinner table. I only intended to read the lyrics but soon we were all singing together.

According to Wikipedia, it was Dr. Martin Luther King’s favorite song.

Here you go:

Precious Lord Take My Hand

Words & music by Thomas A. Dorsey

Precious Lord, take my hand,
Lead me on, let me stand,
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on to the light:

Refrain

Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.

When my way grows drear,
Precious Lord, linger near,
When my life is almost gone,
Hear my cry, hear my call,
Hold my hand lest I fall:

Refrain

When the darkness appears
And the night draws near,
And the day is past and gone,
At the river I stand,
Guide my feet, hold my hand:

Refrain