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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Music (03/08/07)
It was dusk when the horse and rider approached the Bonn River bridge. In the twilight the rider could not see the shadowy figure of a man standing on the opposite bank waiting for her; but she knew he was there and urged her steed into full gallop.

Tonight was to be their last rendezvous as two separate entities, tomorrow they'd say "I DO" and become One.

She was right, of course, Joseph was indeed waiting in the shadows across the bridge; his heart beating in sync with the echoing sound of speeding hooves coming across the bridge, getting closer and closer ....but suddenly the hoof beats stopped, as did his heart - when in disbelief and horror he watched the horse rear up, throwing his bride-to-be into the murky waters below.

Despite his frantic effort to reach her, he was too late.

Haunted by the tragic accident and trying to forget his sorrow and loss, the twenty-four year old Joseph Scriven left his beloved Ireland and migrated to Canada, where for the next forty-two years he lived in melancholy. His work consisted of doing small carpentry jobs and sawing wood, but only for the poor, the widows, or the sick.

In his loneliness, Joseph found companionship with the ONE who is described by Isaiah as "the Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief"; and by apostle Paul as the ONE who is "touched with the feeling of our infirmities." He began to write poetry about this special friendship between himself and his Lord, but kept it a secret from the world.

On his death bed, however, a neighbor found one of his poems in a drawer beside his bed, and when questioned about the authorship of such beautiful thoughts, Joseph replied, "The Lord and I wrote it between us."

Today, Joseph Scriven's poem which was set to music in 1857, still occupies the number three spot on the Favorite Hymns List, which testifies to the popularity of this well known hymn:

"What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer.

"O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in Prayer."

Joseph Scriven died at sixty-six years of age and was buried at Rice Lake in Ottawa, Canada. The Eulogist read the following at his funeral, which was attended by his friends...the poor, the widows and those he had helped along the way:

"He did not build a railroad or amass a fortune, but did more than that. He contributed thoughts to music that will outlive both railroads and fortunes. His thoughts put into music will go on enriching lives long after all material things have crumbled and perished."

The Eulogist's words still ring true today, as more than a century has passed, and yet "What A Friend We Have in Jesus" still ranks as one of the Favorite Hymns of all-time. Joseph Scriven's hymn will continue to bring music to the ear, comfort to the broken hearted, and peace to Man's restless soul.
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This article has been read 1584 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Lynda Schultz 
03/16/07
It's a wonderful hymn and like so many of the best, born out of the deepest waters a soul can pass through. You did a great job of telling the story.
Mariane Holbrook
03/16/07
Very well written indeed. As with Horatio Spafford who wrote "It Is Well With My Soul," after learning that his 5 beloved daughters had drowned when their ship went down, so too did this beloved song writer need to experience the deepest grief to express himself in such a profound way. I think we can deduce that the greatest hymn writers were those who went through the refiner's fire and emerged with a strong message of God's love to His people. Wonderful job of writing. I hope you don't mind my pointing out several punctuation errors in paragraph 3 but they are minor considering how good the rest of the piece is. I found your story both informative and inspiring. You have earned your spot as one of my very favorite FW challenge writers.
Julie Arduini
03/17/07
I love the premise here, and his story and the "It is Well With My Soul" are the two favorites of how great hymns came to be. Where would we be without our broken places? Thank you for that great reminder.
Joanne Sher 
03/18/07
Well, I gasped when the girl was bucked off the horse - I definitely did not see it coming! I just love stories like this, and you did a wonderful job telling it. I love the way you wove the whole story together. You had my attention from beginning to end.
Janice Frantz
03/18/07
Extraordinarily good work. I looked for something to suggest to you but couldn't find a thing except to encourage you to keep writing. This is a masterpiece of word carpentry but more than that, it flows beautifully and was a pleasure to read. Out of man's (and woman's) deepest hurts and bruises comes some of the world's best lyrics and this hymn has surely passed the test of time. Fine job. Janice Frantz
Jan Ackerson
03/20/07
A gorgeously-written narrative--I'd love to hear it as an oral reading, with the hymn playing softly in the background.
Verna Cole Mitchell 
03/20/07
You did a great job of giving the background for one of my favorite hymns. You made a story for me to remember and treasure. Thank you.
Jen Davis
03/20/07
This was a wonderful informative article. I loved how you began this piece as a story, and to know his story makes the song even more precious. Your last line ended the piece beautifully. Thanks for sharing. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
Edy T Johnson
03/23/07
Dear friend Marilyn, what exquisite writing. I had never heard the story behind this hymn, which you tell with all the drama, mystery, and pathos a reader could hope for. You touched my heart and my eyes with tears. This is a powerful message of encouragement, as well, for faith-writers. We never know how God can make use of the words "The Lord and I wrote...between us."
I also want to thank you for your comment on my music poem. I appreciate you!
Edy T Johnson
03/23/07
p.s. This has to go in my "favorites."
Marilyn Schnepp 
03/24/07
Author's Note to Self:
#9 In Level 3
#30 In top 40