Here I am

I first heard this hymn at Camp Longridge, Student Classic Week 2010. As it was sung, middle and high school students and college-aged staffers knelt at the altar, brought to their knees by a burden they felt to serve God and God's children.

I was sitting in the sound booth, advancing the lyric slides while this song played. The words blurred until I blinked away my tears. The keyboard was my altar, and I rested my head on my clasped hands, acknowledging the weight of my own burden. In that moment, the call was not a whisper, or even a strand of lyrical notes from the band, but a shout, a call to action.

I am not content to remain where I am. I am not content to live comfortably and easily, to live the life prescribed for me my social expectations and family wishes, not while I can do more. I want to learn, to be challenged, to be broken to the point of inescapable inspiration. I want to write down what I see and hear around the world so that others will break until inescapably inspired. 

God led me where I am today; I followed. When I am done here, God will lead me away, and I will follow.

-H

Here I am, Lord

words and music by Daniel L. Shutte

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I, the Lord of sea and sky
,I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin,
My hand will save.

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them.
They turn away.

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my words to them.
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will send the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

Finest bread I will provide,
'Til their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.