Scripture Verse

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

Introduction

portrait
Richard W. Adams
1952–

Words: Ri­chard W. Ad­ams, Ju­ly 1, 2009.

AS SHADOWS LENGTHEN
© 2009 Richard W. Adams
cc-license

Music: Ev­en­tide Will­iam H. Monk, 1861 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
William H. Monk
1823–1889

Origin of the Hymn

I wrote this hymn after vis­it­ing my mo­ther, Bet­ty Ad­ams, in her St. Lou­is nurs­ing home, fol­low­ing her di­ag­no­sis with Alz­hei­mer’s Dis­ease. It was sad to see her fac­ult­ies slow­ly de­ter­i­or­at­ing, but I took hope in the prom­ise of res­ur­rec­tion in a per­fect, im­mor­tal bo­dy that will ne­ver age or fail.

Lyrics

As shadows lengthen and the night grows cold,
Not seeing how life’s pag­es will unfold,
Give us Your peace as, yielding to Your will,
We trust the Author loves and keeps us still.

One thing we pray, when evening round us falls,
Show us the place on memory’s darkened walls,
As dimming eye and failing flesh grow weak,
Show us where pictures of Your love still speak.

That we may tell to generations new,
Tell of a faithfulness forever true,
Tell of a power that keeps us to the end,
Tell of our God, protector, guide and friend.

Then, when our task is done and comes the wing
Of death’s bright angel, teach us how to sing,
With soaring confidence to mount on high,
Flying to golden streets beyond the sky.