The autumnal equinox will come at 3:50 a.m. on Monday. I look forward to that because it means the nights are once again longer than the days. I like evenings. I like the way the day runs down at twilight. I even like worshiping in the evening. I grew up in a church that always held vespers services during Lent. As a result, I know quite a few evening hymns, most of which I never get to sing anymore (at least at a worship service) because most congregations don’t have evening prayer services.

One hymn that I particularly like is actually a compline hymn, that is a hymn for the service just before bedtime. Lutherans in the U.S revived compline as a service in 1979, but it doesn’t get used very often. A traditional Latin compline hymn (since the seventh century) is “To you, Before the Close of Day.” It’s a simple prayer sung to a tune with only four different notes.

I am intrigued by the second verse.

From all ill dreams defend our sight,
From fears and terrors of the night;
Withhold from us our ghostly foe,
That spot of sin we may not know.

Who would think to ask God for protection from bad dreams? Any child might pray this way. When you’re a kid the night seems haunted by ghoulish creatures who can invade our dreams. Defend us from them, dear Lord.

Maybe it’s a good thing to become again like a child, trusting ourselves to the loving arms of our Savior.

Read Psalm 4:8 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne