By Paul Dungey
It happens to all of us, now and again, when a song’s melody or lyrics get stuck in one’s head. It is called an ear worm, which Wikipedia describes as “that catch or memorable piece of music that continuously occupies a person’s mind.” It is also referred to as “sticky music” or “stuck song syndrome.” The technical term for this phenomenon is involuntary musical imagery (INMI), and studies suggest that around 90% of people experience eagworms at least once a week.
The song that has been stuck in my head lately is the hymn ‘Will You Come and Follow Me (The Summons)’ whose lyrics were written by John L. Bell and Graham A. Maule. Bell and Maule are members of the Iona Community. Bell is a Scottish hymn-writer and Church of Scotland minister, a broadcaster, and former student activist. Bell works throughout the world, lecturing in theological colleges in the UK, Canada and the United States, but is primarily concerned with the renewal of congregational worship at the grass roots level.
So, I find myself contemplating: “Why do I have this hymn song stuck in my ear?” My answer is that “Well, it has a singable tune, but it is the lyrics that I keep pondering”. The lyrics of the first verse are: “Will you come and follow me if I but call your name? Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same? Will you let my love be shown? Will you let my name be known, will you let my life be grown in you, and you in me?
In the lyrics, the hymn is asking questions, so one must consider whom it is that is asking the questions, and who is it that is supposed to provide the answers?
In recent days, the Christian Church has celebrated Pentecost, which in Jewish tradition was known as Feast of Harvest (the Feast of Weeks, or First Fruits). Christianity.com states that Pentecost is mentioned in five places in the Old Testament - in Exodus 23, Exodus 24, Leviticus 16, Numbers 28, and Deuteronomy 16; and that 'Pentecost' is the Greek name of this event.
The Christian church celebrates Pentecost by recalling the events recorded in the New Testament book of Acts, chapter 2, which describes what happened when the Holy Spirit came upon the people who gathered to celebrate Pentecost (The Feast of First Fruits) following Jesus' ascension to heaven. “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2: 1-4, NIV)
It helpful to remember that God’s son, Jesus, promised the Holy Spirit to all who trust in him. In John gospel message, John 14:26, Jesus said: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”
What I remember too, is that Jesus has given his followers a new commandment: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).
So, I keep hearing the questions being asked from John Bell’s hymn. The questions that seek answers from those who sing or hear the hymn. As one who trust in Jesus and seeks to follow in His footsteps, I wonder, if this ear worm is one of the ways that the power of the Holy Spirit is moving in me, encouraging me, empowering me, leading me, to obey Jesus’ commandment? To be one of Jesus followers, is to love one another, as he loved us!
The lyrics from the last verse of the hymn ‘The Summons’, are becoming my newest ear worm! “Lord, your summons echoes true when you but call my name. Let me turn and follow you and never be the same. In your company I'll go where your love and footsteps show. Thus, I'll move and live and grow in you and you in me.
Paul Dungey is a life long member of Westminster Church. He is an Elder, choir member, chair of the Worship Committee, and willing volunteer in just about every capacity. Paul is active in prison ministry, Meals on Wheels, scouting, and Sleep in Heavenly Peace. He was 2023 recipient of the Fred Atkins Volunteer of the Year award.
It happens to all of us, now and again, when a song’s melody or lyrics get stuck in one’s head. It is called an ear worm, which Wikipedia describes as “that catch or memorable piece of music that continuously occupies a person’s mind.” It is also referred to as “sticky music” or “stuck song syndrome.” The technical term for this phenomenon is involuntary musical imagery (INMI), and studies suggest that around 90% of people experience eagworms at least once a week.
The song that has been stuck in my head lately is the hymn ‘Will You Come and Follow Me (The Summons)’ whose lyrics were written by John L. Bell and Graham A. Maule. Bell and Maule are members of the Iona Community. Bell is a Scottish hymn-writer and Church of Scotland minister, a broadcaster, and former student activist. Bell works throughout the world, lecturing in theological colleges in the UK, Canada and the United States, but is primarily concerned with the renewal of congregational worship at the grass roots level.
So, I find myself contemplating: “Why do I have this hymn song stuck in my ear?” My answer is that “Well, it has a singable tune, but it is the lyrics that I keep pondering”. The lyrics of the first verse are: “Will you come and follow me if I but call your name? Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same? Will you let my love be shown? Will you let my name be known, will you let my life be grown in you, and you in me?
In the lyrics, the hymn is asking questions, so one must consider whom it is that is asking the questions, and who is it that is supposed to provide the answers?
In recent days, the Christian Church has celebrated Pentecost, which in Jewish tradition was known as Feast of Harvest (the Feast of Weeks, or First Fruits). Christianity.com states that Pentecost is mentioned in five places in the Old Testament - in Exodus 23, Exodus 24, Leviticus 16, Numbers 28, and Deuteronomy 16; and that 'Pentecost' is the Greek name of this event.
The Christian church celebrates Pentecost by recalling the events recorded in the New Testament book of Acts, chapter 2, which describes what happened when the Holy Spirit came upon the people who gathered to celebrate Pentecost (The Feast of First Fruits) following Jesus' ascension to heaven. “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2: 1-4, NIV)
It helpful to remember that God’s son, Jesus, promised the Holy Spirit to all who trust in him. In John gospel message, John 14:26, Jesus said: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”
What I remember too, is that Jesus has given his followers a new commandment: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).
So, I keep hearing the questions being asked from John Bell’s hymn. The questions that seek answers from those who sing or hear the hymn. As one who trust in Jesus and seeks to follow in His footsteps, I wonder, if this ear worm is one of the ways that the power of the Holy Spirit is moving in me, encouraging me, empowering me, leading me, to obey Jesus’ commandment? To be one of Jesus followers, is to love one another, as he loved us!
The lyrics from the last verse of the hymn ‘The Summons’, are becoming my newest ear worm! “Lord, your summons echoes true when you but call my name. Let me turn and follow you and never be the same. In your company I'll go where your love and footsteps show. Thus, I'll move and live and grow in you and you in me.
Paul Dungey is a life long member of Westminster Church. He is an Elder, choir member, chair of the Worship Committee, and willing volunteer in just about every capacity. Paul is active in prison ministry, Meals on Wheels, scouting, and Sleep in Heavenly Peace. He was 2023 recipient of the Fred Atkins Volunteer of the Year award.
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