Decades ago, in a community where I lived in another state, I had a very good friend who served as a Deacon in the church I pastored. His name was Tom and he is now in Heaven. I know, therefore, that his faith has now been made sight. And even though I do not know what all else he is now experiencing, I do know that when I see him again, I too will share the same blessings he currently enjoys.
For now, however, I remember him as he was back when I knew him – an upstanding Christian man who was wise beyond his years and who found joy in the midst of all life’s circumstances, including the unexpected and tragic death of his teenage son.
One thing in particular that I remember about Tom was the wisdom he was noted for dispensing. He was especially fond of one certain catch phrase above all others. Very often, he would be heard saying: “You’ve got to do right! Just do right!” On occasion, he would add these words: “God will take care of everything else - if you just do right!”
I cannot tell you how many times over the intervening years that I have reflected on Tom’s wisdom in general, and on this, his favorite phrase, in particular. What is more, over time, I have come to employ it quite often myself. To be honest, all of my children likely had this phrase burned into their own psyches through its oft repeated utterance from my own lips.
One regret that I have is that I never asked Tom where he got this phrase. Older now, and a bit more well read, my suspicion these days is that it came from a poem penned by Norman Macleod way back in 1857 that was titled “Trust in God and Do the Right”.
First published in The Edinburgh Christian Magazine, MacLeod’s poem was eventually set to music and turned into a popular song by Arthur Sullivan in 1871. The words are as follows:
Courage, brother! do not stumble,
Though thy path is dark as night;
There's a star to guide the humble-
Trust in God and do the right.
Let the road be long and dreary,
And its ending out of sight;
Foot it bravely--strong or weary,
Trust in God and do the right.
Perish "policy" and cunning,
Perish all that fears the light;
Whether losing, whether winning,
Trust in God and do the right.
Trust no party, trust no faction,
Trust no leaders in the fight;
But in every word and action
Trust in God and do the right.
Trust no forms of guilty passion,
Fiends can look like angels bright;
Trust no custom, school, or fashion,
Trust in God and do the right.
Some will hate thee, some will love thee,
Some will flatter, some will slight;
Turn from man, and look above thee,
Trust in God and do the right.
Simple rule and safest guiding,
Inward peace and inward light;
Star upon our path abiding,
TRUST IN GOD AND DO THE RIGHT.
Kudos to Mr. Macleod! The wisdom proffered in this piece of poetry is timeless. It worked in 1857 and it still works in the 2019. No doubt it has also worked every moment of every day in between.
The Bible itself affirms this wisdom. In the 37th Psalm, verse 3, David as much as stated this great principle when he wrote: “Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.”
I’m thankful for the admonition of a good friend like Tom. As I am for the affirmation of an inspired poet like Norman Macleod over a century before Tom was born. But above all, I’m thankful for the promise of God’s Word millennia ago.
Our Heavenly Father has not promised us a life without pain. Or without struggle. Or without difficulty. But He has promised us that He will take care of those who both trust in Him and do right by Him. And that is enough for me!
Each day that I live, I hope and pray that I will be seen by both my fellow man and my Heavenly Father as someone who has just decided to “Do right and trust God”!
POEM SOURCE: https://crossroad.to/Victory/poems/trust-do-right.htm.
SCRIPTURE SOURCE: https://biblehub.com/psalms/37-3.htm.
NOTE: As I recounted in an earlier blog post, “For Dad” (06/19/2017), a story from the 1980s demonstrates this principle well. David Wallechinsky, in his book titled The Complete Book of the Olympics, shares the following story about American sprinter Carl Lewis:
At his father's funeral (in 1987), American Carl Lewis placed his 100-meter gold medal from the 1984 Olympics in his father's hands. "Don't worry," he told his surprised mother. "I'll get another one."
A year later, in the 100-meter final at the 1988 games, Lewis was competing against Canadian world-record-holder Ben Johnson. Halfway through the race Johnson was five feet in front. Lewis was convinced he could catch him. But at 80 meters, he was still five feet behind. It's over, Dad, Lewis thought.
As Johnson crossed the finish, he stared back at Lewis and thrust his right arm in the air, index finger extended. Lewis was exasperated. He had noticed Johnson's bulging muscles and yellow-tinged eyes, both indications of steroid use. "I didn't have the medal, but I could still give to my father by acting with class and dignity," Lewis said later. He shook Johnson's hand and left the track.
But then came the announcement that Johnson had tested positive for anabolic steroids. He was stripped of his medal. The gold went to Lewis, a replacement for the medal he had given his father.
Cf.: https://www.cleoejacksoniii.com/my-ongoing-thoughts/for-dad.
For now, however, I remember him as he was back when I knew him – an upstanding Christian man who was wise beyond his years and who found joy in the midst of all life’s circumstances, including the unexpected and tragic death of his teenage son.
One thing in particular that I remember about Tom was the wisdom he was noted for dispensing. He was especially fond of one certain catch phrase above all others. Very often, he would be heard saying: “You’ve got to do right! Just do right!” On occasion, he would add these words: “God will take care of everything else - if you just do right!”
I cannot tell you how many times over the intervening years that I have reflected on Tom’s wisdom in general, and on this, his favorite phrase, in particular. What is more, over time, I have come to employ it quite often myself. To be honest, all of my children likely had this phrase burned into their own psyches through its oft repeated utterance from my own lips.
One regret that I have is that I never asked Tom where he got this phrase. Older now, and a bit more well read, my suspicion these days is that it came from a poem penned by Norman Macleod way back in 1857 that was titled “Trust in God and Do the Right”.
First published in The Edinburgh Christian Magazine, MacLeod’s poem was eventually set to music and turned into a popular song by Arthur Sullivan in 1871. The words are as follows:
Courage, brother! do not stumble,
Though thy path is dark as night;
There's a star to guide the humble-
Trust in God and do the right.
Let the road be long and dreary,
And its ending out of sight;
Foot it bravely--strong or weary,
Trust in God and do the right.
Perish "policy" and cunning,
Perish all that fears the light;
Whether losing, whether winning,
Trust in God and do the right.
Trust no party, trust no faction,
Trust no leaders in the fight;
But in every word and action
Trust in God and do the right.
Trust no forms of guilty passion,
Fiends can look like angels bright;
Trust no custom, school, or fashion,
Trust in God and do the right.
Some will hate thee, some will love thee,
Some will flatter, some will slight;
Turn from man, and look above thee,
Trust in God and do the right.
Simple rule and safest guiding,
Inward peace and inward light;
Star upon our path abiding,
TRUST IN GOD AND DO THE RIGHT.
Kudos to Mr. Macleod! The wisdom proffered in this piece of poetry is timeless. It worked in 1857 and it still works in the 2019. No doubt it has also worked every moment of every day in between.
The Bible itself affirms this wisdom. In the 37th Psalm, verse 3, David as much as stated this great principle when he wrote: “Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.”
I’m thankful for the admonition of a good friend like Tom. As I am for the affirmation of an inspired poet like Norman Macleod over a century before Tom was born. But above all, I’m thankful for the promise of God’s Word millennia ago.
Our Heavenly Father has not promised us a life without pain. Or without struggle. Or without difficulty. But He has promised us that He will take care of those who both trust in Him and do right by Him. And that is enough for me!
Each day that I live, I hope and pray that I will be seen by both my fellow man and my Heavenly Father as someone who has just decided to “Do right and trust God”!
POEM SOURCE: https://crossroad.to/Victory/poems/trust-do-right.htm.
SCRIPTURE SOURCE: https://biblehub.com/psalms/37-3.htm.
NOTE: As I recounted in an earlier blog post, “For Dad” (06/19/2017), a story from the 1980s demonstrates this principle well. David Wallechinsky, in his book titled The Complete Book of the Olympics, shares the following story about American sprinter Carl Lewis:
At his father's funeral (in 1987), American Carl Lewis placed his 100-meter gold medal from the 1984 Olympics in his father's hands. "Don't worry," he told his surprised mother. "I'll get another one."
A year later, in the 100-meter final at the 1988 games, Lewis was competing against Canadian world-record-holder Ben Johnson. Halfway through the race Johnson was five feet in front. Lewis was convinced he could catch him. But at 80 meters, he was still five feet behind. It's over, Dad, Lewis thought.
As Johnson crossed the finish, he stared back at Lewis and thrust his right arm in the air, index finger extended. Lewis was exasperated. He had noticed Johnson's bulging muscles and yellow-tinged eyes, both indications of steroid use. "I didn't have the medal, but I could still give to my father by acting with class and dignity," Lewis said later. He shook Johnson's hand and left the track.
But then came the announcement that Johnson had tested positive for anabolic steroids. He was stripped of his medal. The gold went to Lewis, a replacement for the medal he had given his father.
Cf.: https://www.cleoejacksoniii.com/my-ongoing-thoughts/for-dad.