Author: Brian Wren (b. 1936) Hymnal: Hymns of Glory, Songs of Praise #385 (2008) Meter: 7.6.7.6 Lyrics: 1 Here hangs a man discarded,
a scarecrow hoisted high,
a nonsense pointing nowhere
to all who hurry by.
2 Can such a clown of sorrows
still bring a useful word
when faith and love seem phantoms
and every hope absurd?
3 Yet here is help and comfort
for lives by comfort bound,
when drums of dazzling progress
give strangely hollow sound:
4 Life, emptied of all meaning,
drained out in bleak distress,
can share in broken silence
our deepest emptiness;
5 And love that freely entered
the pit of life's despair,
can name our hidden darkness
and suffer with us there.
6 Christ, in our darkness risen,
help all who long for light
to hold the hand of promise,
till faith receives its sight. Topics: Christ Incarnate Passion and Death; Christian Year Good Friday; Despair and Trouble; Longing Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:23 Languages: English Tune Title: SHRUB END
Here hangs a man discarded