A Scarlet Thread

NCF Office – April 9, 2024 2 Comments

This week’s Blog contribution comes from Judson Chubbuck. Part of the lyrics of his song say, “but eyes of faith, can perceive, That through our lives this thread can weave, Garments of love and unity.” What a great recap of what Jeff Trask referenced in his teaching this past Sunday: the disciples coming together in unity even though having different perspectives, personalities, and preferences. I echo Judon’s prayer: may love and unity define our relationships! -Melissa Logsdon, NCF Associate Pastor

The last time I wrote, I shared some thoughts of managing grief in times of loss. This week, I’d like to share with you lyrics of a song I wrote some years ago when I thought I was losing the friendship of a dear Christian friend over church matters. 

The deepest emotion I had at the time of this loss was actually anger. I was deeply distressed that God’s church would become divided through our human weaknesses, especially my own inability to fix this, despite my love and appreciation for my friend and my friend for me.

I have a history of writing songs and poems in times of strong grief or joy. Like the Biblical psalmists, I convert my strong, sometimes overwhelming emotions into words and music reflecting lament or praise, even protest or complaint that helps me and sometimes others, positively manage those deep emotions. The term “a scarlet thread” has several meanings in scripture. In this song, I use it is a metaphor for the continuity and working of God, often invisible and secret, through the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus at work in us, even in our sin, for redemption and ultimate triumph for our losses, injustice, sins, and death. 

I am happy to say that this song had an Easter ending when after a considerable time of separation, my friend and I reconciled. The scarlet thread held fast.

“A Scarlet Thread”

A thread so fine that it’s hard to see,

But eyes of faith can perceive

That through our lives this thread can weave

Garments of love and unity.

There’s a scarlet thread that winds and weaves

Through all our lives, through history.

Descending from our Father above

It binds our hearts in eternal love.

A scarlet thread o’er our heart’s door

Leads us to freedom forevermore.

Through fiery trials and the tempter’s hand,

It leads us through to the promised land.

A scarlet thread through the temple runs,

From altar base to the inner room.

Offerings for sin, blood sacrifice,

From Adam’s fall, to Jesus Christ.

There’s a scarlet thread from our Savior’s side,

Once pure white, now blood dyed.

Through its power we are sanctified,

A scarlet thread from the Savior’s side.

There’s a scarlet thread to a table spread

Where with blood and body, we are fed

Jesus’ life He dared to give

So that Jesus’ life we now can live

There’s a scarlet thread to a heavenly shore

Where we’ll live in freedom forevermore.

Where the scarlet thread through the River of Life

Becomes garments of love and purest light.

A thread so fine that it’s hard to see,

But eyes of faith, can perceive

That through our lives this thread can weave

Garments of love and unity.

–Judson Chubbuck