Today would have been my father’s 89th birthday. Born in 1921 in Grimstand, Norway, Arne Thorodd Thomassen immigrated to the United States in March 1926, a few months before his 5th birthday. After the seventh grade, they returned to Norway for a year. Dad wrote, “We then went to Norway where I attended a country school (every other day) and had to cope with the language, customs, and different ways of teaching.”
Several factors shaped his life:
• His Norwegian heritage. He was proud to be a Norwegian, never forgetting his country of origin or his mother tongue. This was especially “useful,” if I may term it so, in the many years he lived in Minnesota and Wisconsin, often surrounded by many “Scandahoovians.” Little did he know that his heritage would impact a second life-shaping factor.
• His U.S. Army experience. During World War II, dad was drafted into the U.S. Army and placed in the 99th Infantry Battalion, which was a Norwegian American Ski Troop. All of the men were either born in Norway or were of Norwegian extraction and understood the language. The 99th was formed to possibly invade Norway, which was occupied by the Germans. They never did have to invade Norway, but they fought throughout Europe, including a key role in the Battle of the Bulge. At the end of W.W. II, they had the privilege of escorting the King of Norway back into the country. The army experience did not cease when he was discharged, but it impacted the third life-shaping factor.
• 99th Infantry Battalion (Separate) Reunions. Dad was one of the organizers of the 99ers, a group that has continued meeting for reunions and meetings until this very present day. They had yearly national reunions until just recently. Now they have local gatherings. The 99ers publish a newsletter several times a year. The November 2009 edition had 100 pages! The editions include histories and detailed accounts of their W.W. II activities. Dad served as a founder, secretary, chaplain and probably a host of other duties in keeping this very active army reunion. Dad and mother had life-long friends, some of whom came to their funerals.
These three life-shaping factors were never far from his mind, whether he was raising his three sons (teaching us how to make our beds with square corners or polishing our shoes like he did in the army) or using army stories as sermon illustrations when he preached or spoke on daily radio programs or spoke Norwegian to the elderly in the nursing home where he was a chaplain for 17 years after retiring from the pastorate.
There were other events that impacted dad’s life, but we’ll stop with 4 today. The fourth one was his love for singing. Dad sang right up to the end of his life. When he could no longer speak due to mini strokes and Parkinson’s, he could sing.
Today, I begin a series of “Songs My Father Sang.” These are songs he knew and loved. They “spoke to him” when he was not able to speak to others. These were songs of deep meaning that became part of his spiritual DNA. In fact, they were in his DNA, I believe!
Dad probably knew thousands of hymns, choruses, popular songs, songs in Norwegian, as well as English. Above all he loved hymns. And, he had them memorized! This was especially evident in the last years of his life. I’d call his apartment or the nursing home and say, “Dad, let’s sing.” I’d hold on to the phone as I played the piano and he’d start singing what I was playing. It was rare if he ever missed a word.
One of his favorite hymns (and I will have a tough time determining favorites, because he like them all!) was “He Hideth My Soul.” This song by Fanny Crosby is based on Exodus 33:21,22. “Behold, there is a place by Me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while My glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with My hand while I pass by.”
So, as you read the text (if this is new to you) or if you are singing it already (like meeting an old friend), be reminded that Jesus does take care of us. No matter what your situation in life is, He is holding you and caring for you!
As you go through the hymn, see how many scriptures allusions there are in the text.
For example, I especially like the end of verse 2: “He giveth me strength as my day.” This is a reference to Deuteronomy 33:25 “as thy days, so shall thy strength be. (KJV). I do like the NIV: “your strength will equal your days.”
He Hideth My Soul
Words: Fanny J. Crosby published 1890
William J. Kirkpatrick c.1890
Refrain:
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
That shadows a dry, thirsty land;
He hideth my life with the depths of His love,
And covers me there with His hand,
And covers me there with His hand.
1. A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
A wonderful Savior to me;
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,
Where rivers of pleasure I see.
Refrain
2. A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
He taketh my burden away;
He holdeth me up, and I shall not be moved,
He giveth me strength as my day.
Refrain
3. With numberless blessings each moment He crowns,
And filled with His fullness divine,
I sing in my rapture, oh, glory to God
For such a Redeemer as mine!
Refrain
4. When clothed in His brightness, transported I rise
To meet Him in clouds of the sky,
His perfect salvation, His wonderful love
I'll shout with the millions on high.
Refrain
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