Concordia TheoBLOGical Seminary

Our first winner is Peter Ahlersmeyer for the following entry to our contest. We are giving away 2 beautiful personal leather-bound editions of the Lutheran Service Book. Go here if you would like to read about the contest.  We will announce our second winner in two weeks.  Congrats Peter!

“Now the Light Has Gone Away” is indeed my favorite hymn in the hymnal. Why is it? Let’s start with the history of it. Growing up every night as my mother would tuck me into bed she would sing me this song. It was never a song that I knew, but rather something my mother introduced to me. It had a catchy lullaby tune and seemed like a short little song that got past down generation after generation. In fact I didn’t know it existed in the hymnal until around high school when I was just flipping through and stumbled upon it. It was then I examined the lyrics (which I always thought were pretty generic) more closely. The great thing about a hymn like this is how easily accessible it is even to little kids. It isn’t loaded with special meanings and language and vocabulary that were used long before I was born. It speaks the language of a child. The hymn is essentially a prayer that asks for forgiveness, a fresh start, Christ to be with loved ones, and thanksgiving. We see throughout the Bible that Jesus took the children and always encouraged them and showed so much love for them.

And this hymn reiterates the love that Christ shows on us. It is something every little kid needs to hear and even more so adults. It is amazing how a hymn so simple can be so uplifting. I can’t be thankful enough to have parents that helped plant the seed of everlasting faith in me and being taught that hymn as a child has helped me up until this very day. As it will continue to be my source of inspiration as I prepare for my life of service not only in the Church but in the world. I hope that you too take the time to focus on this hymn and learn the words. It is a great nighttime prayer but it is also a great song for the many struggles one does encounter in life. I can’t wait to be able to share this special hymn with my children some day just as it was shared with me as a child.