A Hymn for Life's Milestones

Summer is here and thoughts of recent grads have me thinking about all the different kinds of milestones God helps His people achieve throughout their given lifetimes: graduations, marriages, births, promotions, business launches, first homes, relocations, retirement and more. 

It also has me thinking of the highest milestone we can attain: our ultimate sanctification in Heaven, face-to-face with Christ, our Savior.

There's a hymn for that.

And it's author Charles H. Gabriel wrote it after a milestone of his own: moving to Chicago from California. In his own words:

In September 1892, I reached Chicago, possessed of a wife, a six-month-old son, a coat that buttoned up to the throat, a plug hat, a cane, and sixteen dollars in cash. At that time a book of songs for the Epworth League was being prepared by its secretary, Dr. J.F. Berry, who engaged me to assist him. Fortunately for the chattels above mentioned, my source of income was not delayed. . . .

As a fact beyond my ability to understand, I never edited a book of songs that reimbursed me in royalties to the amount of money it cost me to gather the copy for the printer. On the other hand, every one I did compile produced one to five songs that proved successful. “Higher Ground” was one of the first I wrote after reaching Chicago. For it I received $5.00.

Higher Ground

text by Johnson Oatman, tune by Charles Gabriel

I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining ev'ry day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

Refrain:
Lord, lift me up, and let me stand
By faith, on heaven’s tableland;
A higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where these abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground. 

I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught a joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground. 

I want to scale the utmost height,
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till heav’n I’ve found,
“Lord, lead me on to higher ground.”