"Fold Me Closer"

Jesus said, “His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'” (Matthew 25:23 NIV).

The title is not a typographical error. I really did mean to say, “fold” me closer. It comes from an old hymn that I ran across recently. It was written in 1900 by Leila N. Morris. The title of the hymn is Sweet Will of God. The song is a treasure trove of insight. I hope you will Google the lyrics and look at them. The chorus goes like this:

Sweet Will of God, Still fold me closer, 'till I am wholly lost in Thee.
Sweet Will of God, Still fold me closer, 'till I am wholly lost in Thee.

When I first read it, I thought the lyric must have been "still hold me closer". It would be one thought to be hidden in the hollow of God's hand, protected from the challenges and difficulties of this world. But the word is fold. And, this is a very different thought. It reminds me of Origami. If you've ever done or seen origami done, it is a very complex folding. A flat sheet of paper, in the hands of someone more skilled than I, is conformed to the shape of an elegant bird. There are places where the folds or the turning of the paper is not easy as though the paper would consciously fight against its reconfiguration. What Leila Morris is expressing is the desire to have God reshape her. Not her body, but the essence of who she is - her spirit. It is a complete reshaping as well… 'Till I am wholly lost in Thee. What an amazing expression of what is the ultimate goal of our faith, to be so completely conformed to God and His perfect will as to become invisible that we would perfectly reflect the Lord we serve.

It is not a simple journey, nor is it sporadic. It is a life long journey. There are awards given that mean more than others. Not to diminish any effort, but there are recognitions like the lifetime accomplishment awards that are given near the end of the Academy Awards. The people who are given these awards can only be considered after decades of work in the field of film making. This is an example of a very special moment in someone's life. To receive this kind of recognition must be both heartwarming and very humbling. If Jesus were to appear to us as we are today, I doubt any of us would be standing. We would be face down in the blinding light of His glory. But, with His patience and my slow surrender, my hope is to be conformed to His will. Even that will only be perfected when I shed this flesh and I see His face. And the life journey to understand the will of God will be complete. It is a journey of a thousand miles taken one step at a time. Our part is to keep walking toward home following the Shepherd's voice and trusting in His strength, grace and mercy. At the end of it all is not some golden statue. At the end of it all is the voice of the Master saying, “Well done!” Now that’s worth being folded!