Feel for the parents who've lost their child,
Feel for the women whom men have defiled,
Feel for the baby for whom there's no breast,
And feel for the weary who find no rest. (From: A Touching Place, Wee Worship Book , page 58. Tune: Dream Angus)
I first encountered John Bell at the Abbey on Iona in what must have been about 1983. I was part of a group who worked with John to produce the Iona Community's first ever recording Through Wood and Nails, which was of course issued on vinyl (and so, is no longer available). Since then he has written, with Graham Maule, a large number of modern hymns in the Celtic tradition. I've chosen this verse because it is a good example of his direct and grounded style. The link is to a later edition of the Wee Worship Book than mine.
The Iona Community is part of a revival of interest in Celtic Christianity. John Bell has popularised it by writing modern hymns! It is easy to forget when we take pleasure in his Celtic approach, enjoy the music and sing the words that the Christian faith is about suffering and love. These words are an the invitation to encounter the pain of others, to ground our wilder flights of spirituality. This is how we learn to love.
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