On the morning of September 5, 2026, I looked online to learn what has been happening in the world as I kept hearing about bodies of black people hanging from trees. As of today, 7 people have died in this way in the US this year. I couldn't help but try to reconcile my faith with this knowing and the generations of those impacted by the deaths of black people tied to trees. The impact on black people as such stories lead to heightened anxiety and fear that raises blood pressures and other adverse conditions. The impact on white people who have witnessed and been taught to celebrate such acts. People raised by those who openly, privately, or subconsciously instilled full or watered down versions of values of racial hatred and devaluing Black lives. The lynching tree and it's attempts at keeping racism alive are still with us, no matter the circumstances of recent deaths nor the face we put on our past in our attempts to focus on the future.

While listening to an interview of James Cone I was reminded of his teaching around the cross and the lynching tree. I encourage you to look him up, his book, and other articles and lectures for more insight on the topic.

The following is the how I chose to meditate on this topic. It is a revised set of lyrics for the hymn Beneath the Cross of Jesus. This is blend of the original three verses and additional words with parallels of the lynching tree and the lesson it is to us, past and present, as we seek to follow Christ. He offers us the redeeming love of which no earthly suffering and no earthly death has power to overcome.

The lyrics are designed in a way that could be sung as a two-part duet. I've indicated each line of singing by Voice 1, Voice 2, and Unison for when each voice would sing the same lyrics or different words at the same time.

[Audio/Video recording in progress. Check back for this performance example of the song.]

VERSE 1

Voice 1: Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand
Voice 2: Beneath the tree of lynchings I fain would take my stand

Voice 1: The shadow of a mighty rock
Voice 2: In shadow as their bodies rock
Unison: within a weary land;

Voice 1: A home within the wilderness,
Voice 2: A pause in city's wilderness,
Unison: [voice 1: a rest] + [voice 2: arrest]
Voice 1: upon the way
Voice 2: my thoughts in sways

Unison: From the burning of the noontide heat, and the burden of the day

VERSE 2

Unison: Upon that
Unison: [voice 1: cross of Jesus] + [voice 2: tree of lynchings]
Unison: mine eye at times can see

Unison: The very dying form of
Unison: [voice 1: One] + [voice 2: those]
Unison: who suffered
Unison: [voice 1: there for me;] + [voice 2: while not me]

Unison: And from my stricken heart with tears two wonders I confess

Voice 1: The wonders of
Voice 2: What cost to claim
Unison: Redeeming love and my unworthiness

VERSE 3

Unison: I take, O
Unison: [voice 1: cross] + [voice 2: tree]
Unison: they shadow for my abiding place;

Unison: I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of
Unison: [voice 1: his] + [voice 2: each]
Unison: face;

Voice 1: Content to let the world go by,
Voice 2: Mind set on love, the world goes by.
Unison: [voice 1: To know] + [voice 2: In love]
Unison: no gain nor loss.

Voice 1: My sinful self my only shame,
Voice 2: No more, my sin of silent shame,
Voice 1: my glory all
Unison: the
Unison: [voice 1: cross____.] + [voice 2: tree]
Voice 2: of lynching lost____.

Amen.