Gathering the Gleanings: Reflections on Life in the Ministry

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Were you?

This African American Spiritual was believed to be passed down orally through the slaves. It was first published in 1899 in Old Plantation Songs by William E. Barton in the section entitled Recent Negro Melodies. Now it’s in thousands hymnals and on hundreds of plaques, framed prints and other various things. It’s a public domain hymn.

No matter the history or the story behind the hymn that’s floating around churches, libraries, or on the internet. I know it’s a special part of me and moves me.

Certainly, the words of the song are deep. Talking about the brutal death that Jesus faced – crucifixion. That’s my Lord, they crucified, nailed to a tree, and laid in a tomb. My life has been changed forever since I routinely found myself singing this hymn in my head. I was able to claim Christ as Lord and acknowledge that in so many ways was there when they crucified my Lord, along with so many. Yes, through my sins I was led to be among the crowds that yelled “Crucify Him”.

So that death, that horrific death happened not to condemn me yet to give me life everlasting. He died for you and me, my friends. Wow, what amazing love!

This song has played a significant part of my personal life and my life ofbeing a pastor. A holy moment came each Good Friday while Joe and I were Co-Pastors at First Moravian Church of Georgia, which didn’t have a band, and somehow I got talked into playing it at our Good Friday service I played this song as the special music on our First Good Friday and every Good Friday until we left. A lady extremely dear to our family loved it and talked about it all year, and told me I had to play it every Good Friday service. She stated it penetrated her heart, and Good Friday would never be the same for her if I didn’t play my trumpet, more specifically, Were You There. I didn’t play much, or not nearly as much as I had in University. In fact, I might just as much admit it, I never played except for Christmas and Easter and a few weeks before.

I’m far, far from good, and I am really close to sounding like I’ve never played before. And it certainly doesn’t sound anything like when I was a music student at the University of Lethbridge and a trumpet player. You know what, none of that matters. While I sound pretty bad in this clip, I’m sharp, and I’m flat. I missed a high note, and what should have been a Bb turned into a B. Not a bit of that matters; it wasn’t played for the Philharmonic Orchestra. I was playing in memory of Aunt Jenny.

Aunt Jenny was so influential to our family, and Zachary claimed her as his Georgia Grandma. Aunt Jenny was amazing! Her love will always be in our hearts.

Aunt Jenny, you were and are so greatly loved: Tonight I played just for you!