A hymn for ‘Walking the Way: Living the life of Jesus today’ by Lucy Berry

‘Follow me!’, he says – ‘and be my friend’.
And, ever since, we’ve tried to catch him up;
and, always since, denied him at the end –
through fear of drinking from his cup.
And could I walk that reckless way?

Or even try the paths he trod;
to stride the rocky, risky road 
which leads to trouble – and to God?

‘Follow me!’ he says – and off he darts,
(with us behind him, running out of breath)
down ways where beaten people hold no hope,
planting new life, and putting Death to death.
But can I walk that reckless way?

‘Follow me!’ he says – and off he strides
to where proud power-people plot and hate,
to where slaves, and slave-masters, live in fear;
to where committees of cold tempters wait.
But will I walk that reckless way?

‘Follow me!’ he says – and off he moves,
where difference is loathed and hatred fed,
and poverty gets punished, there he is;
walking his way. And still without a bed.
But shall I walk that reckless way?

‘Follow me!’ you say – and off you float,
still urging us to follow where you’ve gone.
But can we get to where your kingdom comes
while empire in our hearts, reigns on and on?

I want to walk your reckless way;
to tread the path you always trod.
Lord, prod me down that risky road 
which leads to trouble – and to God.

For use in churches only, unless by permission. The sheet music written specially for this hymn by John Strange is available to download from

___

This article was published in the November 2017 edition of  Reform